# Prove your label is correct

Your FDA auditor is asking who approved the formula change and when. Your co-manufacturer wants written confirmation that the label you sent them last month was based on the correct, approved recipe. BetterMenu gives you a complete, unalterable record — ready to share.

Watch the walkthrough:

- [See who changed a recipe, where, and put it back](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rinSE5_qYs) (1:07)
- [Every label file says which recipe it came from](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKaL8CuwsMs) (0:23)

## What record does BetterMenu keep? [#what-record-does-bettermenu-keep]

Every recipe in BetterMenu has two linked records: a [version history](/docs/guide/concepts/version) and an [audit trail](/docs/guide/concepts/audit-trail). Together they give you a complete, chronological account of how your recipe evolved and who was responsible for each change.

The version history shows the full recipe at each point in time — every ingredient, quantity, and serving detail as they were saved. The audit trail shows the individual actions that produced each version: who made the change, when they made it, and what the recipe looked like before and after. Both records are permanent and cannot be edited or removed after the fact. A regulatory affairs manager preparing for inspection can rely on what they see — there is no way for anyone on the team to clean up or condense the history between now and audit day.

<Mermaid chart={`
flowchart TD
    A["Formula created"] -->|"entry: actor · timestamp"| B["Ingredient changed"]
    B -->|"entry: actor · timestamp · before/after"| C["Label exported"]
    C -->|"entry: actor · timestamp · version used"| D["Audit trail exported<br/>for an inspector"]
    style A fill:#ede9ff,stroke:#7c3aed
    style B fill:#ede9ff,stroke:#7c3aed
    style C fill:#ede9ff,stroke:#7c3aed
    style D fill:#7c3aed,color:#ffffff,stroke:#7c3aed
`} />

## How do I access the audit trail for a recipe? [#how-do-i-access-the-audit-trail-for-a-recipe]

Open the recipe in BetterMenu and select the **Activity** tab. Entries are listed in reverse chronological order. Each entry shows what happened, the timestamp, the channel, and the recipe version. Open an entry to see the team member who performed it, along with the rest of its detail.

The trail includes every significant action: creating the recipe, changing ingredients, exporting a label, restoring an earlier version, and archiving. If your team records a rationale when making a change, that note appears in the trail entry as well. For a food manufacturer preparing for an FDA inspection, this means you can open a single tab and see the complete story of your formula — from initial development through every reformulation — without piecing together emails, spreadsheets, or change-request tickets. The record is ready the moment you need it.

<DemoClip
  src="/videos/how-to/activity-log.mp4"
  poster="/videos/how-to/activity-log.jpg"
  caption="The Activity tab lists every change and label file with its time, channel and version. Open an entry to see who did it."
/>

## How do I export a label tied to a specific recipe version? [#how-do-i-export-a-label-tied-to-a-specific-recipe-version]

An older version opens read-only, with no export, so restore it first. In the History tab, choose Restore on the version you need. BetterMenu adds a new version that matches it, and later versions stay in the history. Then export from the Label tab. The export records the recipe version it was based on, the export date, and who requested it.

This means you can produce the label that was in use during any specific production period, even if the recipe has been updated since. Each export is logged in the audit trail, so there is a clear chain: this label, based on this recipe version, exported on this date, by this person. See [Export your label](/docs/guide/how-to/export-your-label) for supported formats.

Follow these steps to export a version-pinned label:

1. Open the recipe and navigate to the **History** tab.
2. Find the version used during the production period.
3. Choose **Restore** on that version. BetterMenu adds a new version that matches it.
4. Export from the **Label** tab. The file names the version, and the export is logged in the audit trail.

## What should I share for an FDA inspection? [#what-should-i-share-for-an-fda-inspection]

For most FDA inspections involving nutrition labeling, the relevant documentation is: the recipe formula used for the product, the Nutrition Facts label generated from that formula, and a record showing when the label was produced and by whom. BetterMenu's audit trail and version-pinned label export give you all three in one place.

Under [21 CFR Part 117 Subpart F](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-117/subpart-F), food manufacturers must maintain accurate, accessible records documenting production activities and preventive controls. BetterMenu is designed with these requirements in mind. Export the audit trail for the recipe in question, export the label pinned to the version that was in production, and note the recipe version identifier in your submission. If your regulatory affairs team needs additional detail — such as the USDA ingredient data used in the calculation — contact BetterMenu support for a detailed calculation report.