# Bilingual Nutrition Facts Label

English and a second language, as two panels or as one panel with the second language after the English.

When any wording on the label is in a second language, the nutrition facts must appear in both. Use one panel per language, or one panel with the second language after the English.

**URL:** https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/bilingual/
**Provider:** BetterMenu (https://bettermenu.live)
**Rule:** Required when the label uses a second language. [21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14))
**Source:** FDA 21 CFR 101.9, eCFR as of 2026-02-12
**In BetterMenu Studio:** Studio works out the per-serving and per-package numbers from your recipe today. It exports the standard vertical panel. Bilingual export is not available yet. Studio gives the per-serving numbers, and your designer sets them in both languages.

These pages are for conventional foods and drinks, not dietary supplements or medical foods.

## Do I need this?

Required if any wording on the label is in a language other than English and the package carries a panel.

The page asks one question at a time, only while the answer can still change the result:

- Does the label use a second language anywhere? (Yes / No) Any wording on the label in a language other than English.
- How much of the package can carry printing? (Under 12 sq in / 12 to 40 sq in / Over 40 sq in) Add up every side you can print on, in square inches. See “How to measure”.
- Does it make nutrition claims or show nutrition information anywhere? (Yes / No) Including the website or ads.

Decision rules, from the same logic as the page:

- If second language is “Yes” and nutrition claims is “Yes”, then: You need this format.
- If second language is “Yes” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “No”, then: You may use this format. Needed only if you print a panel. This package may print a contact line instead.
- If second language is “Yes” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” or “Over 40 sq in”, then: You need this format.
- If second language is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Standard vertical.

Next steps once it applies: Choose one panel or two, then translate every required item. Send your designer the spec below.

## How it differs from standard vertical

Every required item appears in both languages. In one panel, each name shows the English first, then the second language, such as “Protein/Proteinas”. Numbers the two share appear once.

1. English panel ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))
2. Second-language panel ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))

## For your designer

Space: Two panels take twice the space. One panel is a little wider than the English panel.

| Part | Value | Source | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nutrient, vitamin and mineral rows | 8 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| “Calories” | 16 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| Calorie number | 22 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| Servings per container | 10 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(i)) |
| Serving size line | 10 pt or larger, bold | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(ii)) |
| “Amount per serving”, “% Daily Value*” and the footnote | 6 pt or larger | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)) |
| “Nutrition Facts” heading | No smaller than any other type, except the calorie number | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(2)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(2)) |
| Bold | “Nutrition Facts”, “Serving size”, “Amount per serving”, “% Daily Value*”, the names of nutrients that are not indented and the %DV figures. The calorie number and the serving size line are bold too. Servings per container is not. | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iv)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iv)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(3)(ii)) |
| Names in one panel | English first, then the second language, such as “Protein/Proteinas” | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)) |
| Numbers | Once, when they read the same in both languages | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)) |

“From FDA’s sample” means the value was measured from FDA’s sample label, not stated in the rule text. “BetterMenu’s choice” is our own value where the rule text is silent.

## One panel or two

- Two panels: a full panel in English, and a full panel in the second language. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))
- One panel: each line in English, then the second language, such as “Protein/Proteinas 2 g”. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))

## Common mistakes

- Translating the front of the pack but not the nutrition facts. Every required item must be in both languages. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))
- Putting the second language first in a one-panel label. English comes first. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14)))

## Example: A jar of salsa with “Hecho con chiles frescos” on the front

The Spanish line on the front brings in a second language. The nutrition facts then appear in English and Spanish, in one panel or two. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(14))) An invented product, for illustration.

## Related formats

- [Standard vertical](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/standard-vertical/)
- [Side by side](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/side-by-side/)
- [Tabular](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/tabular/)

## Rule text

> “In accordance with § 101.15(c)(2), when nutrition labeling must appear in a second language, the nutrition information may be presented in a separate nutrition label for each language or in one nutrition label with the information in the second language following that in English. Numeric characters that are identical in both languages need not be repeated (e.g., “Protein/Proteinas 2 g”). All required information must be included in both languages.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(d)(14), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

## Frequently asked questions

### When does a Nutrition Facts label need a second language?

When any wording on the label is in a language other than English, 21 CFR 101.15(c)(2) brings in the second language. Then all required nutrition information must be in both languages.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)

### Should a bilingual label use one panel or two?

Either. Use a separate panel for each language, or one panel with the second language after the English.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)

### Do numbers repeat in both languages?

No. Numbers that are the same in both languages need not be repeated, as in “Protein/Proteinas 2 g”.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)

## Machine-readable data

This page as JSON: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/bilingual/data.json
Every format: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/data.json