FDA Labeling Requirements for Indian Food Brands: A Customer-Centric Guide

• October 28, 2025
• admin

If you’re an Indian food manufacturer or private brand planning to sell in the U.S., FDA labeling requirements are not just about following rules but is also about market success.

This blog will explain what the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) expects on U.S. food packs, how that differs from India’s FSSAI rules, and how to design customer-centric labels that showcase on shelf and online. 

This blog curates exactly the areas your competitor content covers, core requirements, readability, allergens, and design strategy, and expands them with 2025 updates and India-specific tips.

Why Are Labels Important? 

Labels serve three main roles in the relationship between customers and business: Marketing, compliance, and safety.

Risk and Recalls
Label mistakes caused almost half of all U.S. food recalls in 2024, which resulted in costs to the food industry of billions of dollars. As a result, the fastest way to safely enter the U.S. market is to get your label correct.

The Sesame Rule
Since January 1, 2023, Sesame is the ninth major allergen in the U.S. For instance, if your product contains sesame but doesn’t list it, it will be recalled.

Indian Consumer Habits
Reading labels has become the new thing for Indian shoppers like never before. As per studies of 2024, 73% read ingredient lists for snacks. If the packaging is clear and honest, it will help you with the sales in both India and worldwide. 

India’s FSSAI Calendar
The FSSAI, India’s food authority, makes changes in the labeling rules every year. The new rules take effect on July 1st every year. This date is a useful one for your company’s annual planning.

FDA vs FSSAI: The Difference 

FSSAI (India): The FSSAI rules for labels amended since 2020 cover all the basic information. Which includes the list of ingredients, the vegetarian/non-vegetarian symbol, details of the nutritions,  dates and batch numbers, and license number FSSAI. They also mention, how you can make claims about the product. 

FDA (U.S.): The FDA’s Food Labeling regulations is the most important document for U.S. sales.This guide gerd updated by January 15th each year.

Things that keep overlapping are the Ingredient list, nutrition info, allergens, net quantity, identity of the food, and name/place of business.

The Difference: 

• The U.S. customary and metrics  are required on the principal display panel
  
• U.S. allergen list includes sesame since 2023; India’s allergen presentation and FoPL initiatives are evolving separately.
  
• FSSAI requires veg/non-veg logo; FDA doesn’t.
  

The Bare-Minimum U.S. food Labeling Checklist

The Principal Display Panel (PDP) and Information Panel (IP), ensure:

1. Statement of Identity–  The common food name on the PDP its not just the brand.
   
2. Net Quantity of Contents– In the bottom 30% of the PDP, with dual units (U.S. customary and metric) in the proper format/placement.
   
3. Nutrition Facts Panel–  FDA format, including Added Sugars where applicable. (See FDA’s Food Labeling Guide.)
   
4. Ingredient List- Ingredients should be mentioned from the most (heaviest) to the least (lightest) If an ingredient is a mix of things like chocolate chips, list its own ingredients inside brackets.

5.   Major Allergen Declaration- clearly mentioning of  all ingredients that are one of thenine major U.S. allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, sesame, and soybeans. This is followed as per the rules of FDA rules. 

6.   Name & Place of Business- the company that made, packed, or sells the product should put the name and U.S. address of the company. The contact information should be clear to reach out if they have questions.

5. Other claims – “Healthy,” nutrient content, organic, non-GMO, etc., must follow specific regulations like updated “healthy” claim framework announced from Dec 2024 or Jan 2025.

FDA Labeling Requirements for food: customer-centric

The competitor’s content emphasizes a customer-first label design aligned to FSSAI/FDA. That’s sound advice and here’s how to do it without sacrificing compliance:

1) Readability & hierarchy

• Use a clear visual hierarchy: identity → net quantity → key claims → allergen highlight → storage/handling cues.
  
• Maintain minimum type sizes/contrast; don’t let claims overpower the identity statement.
  

2) Allergen clarity 

• Place the allergen declaration close to or within the ingredient list, using consistent phrasing; avoid ambiguous compound names for sesame.
  
• Teams should be trained on the sesame rule to prevent packaging mix-ups the fastest route to an avoidable recall.

3) Dual-unit net contents that pass audits

• Put the quantity in both systems and in the correct PDP zone to clear retail and regulator checks.
  

4) Multilingual packs without confusing the FDA

• Bilingual or trilingual artwork is fine, but ensure English meets FDA prominence and formatting; don’t let translations obscure required statements. 

5) Claims discipline

• Substantiate any nutrition/functional claims; align with the updated “healthy” claim criteria before using that word on front-of-pack.
  

6) Smart formats for e-commerce

• Ensure PDP/IP screenshots at 100% show legible Nutrition Facts and allergens mostly U.S. retailers now surface label images for compliance checks. 

India-to-U.S. exporters: 2025 Rule Movements to Watch

• FSMA 204 Track Rule – The new U.S. food tracking rule (FSMA 204) is currently due by January 20, 2026. The deadline might be moved to July 20, 2028, but this is not a certain news. Set up your tracking systems now to avoid rush and expensive fixes later.
  
• FSSAI annual change cycle – Plan India pack updates each year for July 1; align global changeovers to save prepress cost.
  
• “100% purity” style claims – FSSAI has cracked down on absolute purity claims on packs and ads review India/US marketing language to avoid mixed compliance messages.

Standard U.S.  FDA Labeling Requirements Pitfalls

1. Undeclared allergen: Run a final ingredient check against the spec and BOM before print.
   
2. Wrong or missing dual units on PDP:  validate with a net contents calculator and proofread the bottom-30% placement.
   
3. Statement of identity too brand-led: ensure the common/usual name is prominent and parallel to the base.
   
4. Nutrition Facts format errors: use the current FDA template; verify serving size rounding and Added Sugars lines.
   
5. Missing U.S. contact:  for consumer inquiries include name & U.S. address (or other compliant contact) of the responsible business.
   

Building a Label QA Workflow For FDA Labeling Requirement 

• Master checklists: allergens, claims, net quantity, and Nutrition Facts. Map each line item to the FDA Guide section.
  
• Prepress sign-offs: Have regulatory sign off on artwork PDFs, not just copy decks.
  
• Printer proofs & change control: Version control artwork; lock fonts and dielines.
  
• Mock retail test: Print at 100% and view at arm’s length; simulate shelf glare.
  
• Recall-prevention metric: Track internal label non-conformities as per SKU and “artwork first-time-right %.” The 2024 data shows label errors are a top recall cause as they treat this as a KPI.
  

FACTS: Recent Consumer Context 

• With 52% of Indians shifting to private labels, clear, trustworthy packaging is a growth lever; consistent facts panels and clean allergen callouts help you compete on value and safety.
  
• Several Indian studies show rising label engagement, design for fast scanning and plain-language benefits to meet that intent.
  

Why Choose Prakash Labels

Prakash Label assists Indian food brands to expand internationally with ready-to-sell compliant packaging. We design labels which pass FDA and FSSAI inspection, are attractive on shelves and are customer-oriented. We have such advantages as allergen-friendly designs (sesame), lot-code labels, and vivid graphics of online zoom. 

We stick to QA checklist that is based on the FDA guide with the aim of providing the right artwork on the first attempt, reduced reprints and expedited launches. Require a U.S and India version of the same SKU? We are equal to each other, reduce change, and make your change control easier. Let’s label with confidence.

Conclusion

When entering the U.S.business that requires accurate, readable and audit ready labels. Begin with a simple identity, dual-unit net weight, an error-free allergen list (with sesame), and a clean Nutrition Facts panel. Develop a reproducible QA workflow (according to the official guide by FDA) and maintain it. 

The same clarity is working to the advantage of foreign markets as Indians become more careful in reading their consumers. FDA  labeling requirements , when handled properly, are an asset, not a liability to the process of your brand, redistributing the risk and accelerating the growth rate.

FAQs 

1) Do I need a separate FDA label if my pack already meets FSSAI?

Yes, U.S. sale requires FDA elements: English identity, Nutrition Facts, allergen disclosure (including sesame), dual-unit net quantity, and a responsible U.S. business contact.

2) Is sesame now mandatory to declare in the U.S.?

Yes, Sesame is the 9th major allergen. Declare clearly e.g., “Contains: Sesame” and list sesame-derived ingredients within the ingredient list.

3) Do I have to show net quantity in both U.S. customary and metric?

Yes, Display dual units on the principal display panel’s bottom area; format and type size must follow FDA net quantity rules.

4) Is a U.S. address/contact required on the label?

Yes,  Include the responsible firm’s name and U.S. address (or phone/web) for consumer contact; foreign brands may list the U.S. importer/distributor.