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Seasonings

How to label spice blends to sell

Spice blends carry the tiniest RACC on the FDA table, so per-serving nutrition rounds to almost all zeros, but the ingredient list is where sellers slip: every component spice gets named, and salt is often first.

What spice blends labels get wrong

  • Salt is usually the heaviest ingredient in a seasoning blend, so it lists first, which surprises buyers expecting the namesake spice at the top.
  • Name every component spice in descending order. The generic “spices” catch-all is a poor fit for a blend you market by its recipe, and allergic buyers rely on the full list.
  • Sesame is a Big-9 allergen and common in blends, everything bagel seasoning especially. If sesame seeds are in the jar, declare “Contains: Sesame.”
  • At a 1.5 g serving, nearly every nutrient rounds to zero. That is why blends rarely need a panel and why small-package exemptions often apply to spice jars.

Serving size

Spice blends use a 1.5 g RACC, about 1/2 tsp, the smallest serving size on the table. See the RACC lookup for how the FDA sets serving sizes.

Make your spice blends label

The free cottage label maker builds the ingredient statement (auto-ordered by weight), detects the Big-9 allergens, including the ones hiding in sub-ingredients, and adds your state's required home-kitchen disclosure. Scaling into retail? The nutrition label maker computes the FDA panel from the same recipe for $9.

Free cottage label FDA Nutrition Facts panel ($9)

Spice Blends labeling FAQ

Do I need a nutrition label to sell spice blends?
Rarely. With a 1.5 g serving the numbers are mostly zeros, and small jars often qualify for small-package exemptions on top of cottage-scale exemptions. You still need the complete ingredient list, a sesame declaration if it applies, net weight, and your state's home-producer disclosure. Nutrient claims or wholesale accounts change the answer.
Does everything bagel seasoning need an allergen statement?
Yes if it contains sesame seeds, and it almost always does. Sesame is one of the nine major food allergens, so it must appear in the ingredient list and in a “Contains: Sesame” statement. Poppy seeds, garlic, and onion are not federal allergens but still belong in the ingredient list.

More product labeling guides

Verify before selling

Product rules vary by state (especially for spice blends) and change over time. Confirm with your state's program and official sources. Panelry is not affiliated with any government agency and does not provide legal advice. See our disclaimer.