# Side-by-Side Nutrition Facts Label

A vertical panel that lists vitamin D and calcium on one line and iron and potassium on the next.

A vertical panel that lists vitamin D and calcium on one line, and iron and potassium on the next. You may use it in place of the standard list.

**URL:** https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/side-by-side/
**Provider:** BetterMenu (https://bettermenu.live)
**Rule:** Allowed on a single-column vertical panel. [21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(8)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(i)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(ii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(ii))
**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. Side by side export is not available yet. Studio gives the per-serving numbers, and your designer sets them in the side-by-side layout.

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

## Do I need this?

Allowed if a single-column vertical panel fits and no extra column is required.

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

- 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.
- How tall is the tallest open space for the panel? (Under about 3 in / About 3 in or more) One unbroken space, measured top to bottom.
- Who is the food made for? (Everyone 4 and older / Infants through 12 months / Children 1 through 3 / Infants and children 1 through 3 / Pregnant or lactating women)
- Do you promote it for a use of twice or more, or half or less, its reference amount? (Yes / Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix / No) For example, cream substitute promoted for cereal. Half or less is BetterMenu’s reading of the rule’s “twofold or greater”.
- Does a vertical panel fit on any side? (Yes / No) Its shape or size, on any label panel. If not, a tabular panel may fit.
- How much does one package or one unit hold? (Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually / One unit: 200% to 300% / Package: over 150%, under 200% / Popcorn package: 200% to 300% / Random weight, like cheese: 200% to 300% / Raw fruit, vegetable or seafood: 200% to 300% / Something else) Compared with its reference amount (RACC).
- Does a regular tabular panel fit on any side? (Yes / No) If not, the small-package tabular or linear label is allowed.

Decision rules, from the same logic as the page:

- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and panel height is “Under about 3 in”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” or “Pregnant or lactating women” and promoted use is “Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No”, then: You may use this format.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “No” and panel height is “Under about 3 in” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Pregnant or lactating women”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package exemption.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and panel height is “Under about 3 in” and who it is for is “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “No” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Pregnant or lactating women” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package exemption.
- If printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and who it is for is “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “Under about 3 in”, then: Not this format. Use Tabular.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually” or “One unit: 200% to 300%” or “Popcorn package: 200% to 300%” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” or “Pregnant or lactating women”, then: Not this format. Use Dual column.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and promoted use is “Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months (two %DV columns).
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: over 150%, under 200%” or “Random weight, like cheese: 200% to 300%” or “Raw fruit, vegetable or seafood: 200% to 300%” or “Something else” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: over 150%, under 200%” or “Random weight, like cheese: 200% to 300%” or “Raw fruit, vegetable or seafood: 200% to 300%” or “Something else” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” or “Pregnant or lactating women” and promoted use is “Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No”, then: You may use this format.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Use Tabular.
- If printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “Under about 3 in”, then: Not this format. Use Tabular.
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually” or “One unit: 200% to 300%” or “Popcorn package: 200% to 300%” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” or “Pregnant or lactating women”, then: Not this format. Use Dual column.
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and promoted use is “Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months (two %DV columns).
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: over 150%, under 200%” or “Random weight, like cheese: 200% to 300%” or “Raw fruit, vegetable or seafood: 200% to 300%” or “Something else” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” and package size is “Package: over 150%, under 200%” or “Random weight, like cheese: 200% to 300%” or “Raw fruit, vegetable or seafood: 200% to 300%” or “Something else” and who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Infants through 12 months” or “Children 1 through 3” or “Pregnant or lactating women” and promoted use is “Yes, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No”, then: You may use this format.

Next steps once it applies: Send your designer the side-by-side sample and the spec below. Keep vitamin D and calcium on line one, iron and potassium on line two.

## How it differs from standard vertical

The four vitamins and minerals sit two to a line instead of one. When the space below is short, the footnote may move to the right, set off by a line.

1. Nutrients above stay the same ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(12)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(12)))
2. Two vitamins or minerals per line ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(8)))
3. Footnote may move right ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(i)))

## FDA sample label

- Side-by-side display: printed in [21 CFR 101.9(d)(12)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(12)), published at 81 FR 33742 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/05/27/2016-11867/food-labeling-revision-of-the-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels). The values on FDA's sample are illustrative.

## For your designer

Space: About two rows shorter than the standard vertical 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)) |
| Vitamin order | Should be vitamin D and calcium on line one, iron and potassium on line two | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(8)) |
| Short names | “Vit.” and “Potas.” are allowed on the side-by-side display | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)) |
| Separator between the two | A bullet | From FDA’s sample | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(12)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(12)) |

“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.

- Download FDA’s sample label, Side-by-side display: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/fda/er27my16.003.png

## Common mistakes

- Putting the four in another order. The rule says vitamin D and calcium should go first, then iron and potassium. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(8)))
- Using side by side on a label with an extra column. There the vitamins and minerals are listed vertically. ([21 CFR 101.9(e)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(e)(4)))
- Moving the footnote right when there is room below it. It may move only when the space below is not adequate. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(11)(i)))

## Example: A box of six oat bars

The panel fits on the side of the box, with little room under the vitamins. Side by side puts vitamin D and calcium on one line and iron and potassium on the next, which saves two rows. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(8))) An invented product, for illustration.

## Related formats

- [Standard vertical](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/standard-vertical/)
- [Tabular](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/tabular/)
- [Simplified](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/simplified/)

## Rule text

> “When listed horizontally in two columns, vitamin D and calcium should be listed on the first line and iron and potassium should be listed on the second line, as shown in paragraph (d)(12) of this section in the side-by-side display.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(d)(8), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “If the space beneath the information on vitamins and minerals is not adequate to accommodate the information required in paragraph (d)(9) of this section, the information required in paragraph (d)(9) may be moved to the right of the column required in paragraph (d)(7)(ii) of this section and set off by a line that distinguishes it and sets it apart from the percent Daily Value information.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(i), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “Nutrient information for vitamins and minerals (except sodium) shall be separated from information on other nutrients by a bar and shall be arrayed vertically in the following order: Vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium as shown in paragraph (e)(5) of this section.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(e)(4), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “Nutrient information for vitamins and minerals shall be separated from information on other nutrients by a bar and shall be arrayed vertically in the following order: Vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium as shown in the following sample labels.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(i), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

## Frequently asked questions

### Which order do vitamins and minerals take side by side?

The rule says vitamin D and calcium should go on the first line, and iron and potassium on the second.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)

### Can the footnote move to the right?

Yes, when the space below the vitamins and minerals is too small. It sits to the right of the %DV column, set off by a line.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(i)

### Can a side-by-side panel have two columns?

No. Side by side is for a single-column vertical panel. On a label with extra columns, the rule says vitamins and minerals “shall be arrayed vertically”.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(e)(4), 21 CFR 101.9(e)(6)(i)

### Can a side-by-side panel shorten vitamin and potassium?

Yes. “Vit.” and “Potas.” are allowed on the side-by-side display on a package of any size. A package of 40 sq in or less may use every short name on FDA’s list.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B)

## Machine-readable data

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