# Simplified Nutrition Facts Label

A shorter panel that lists fewer nutrients. It ends with “*% DV = % Daily Value” when the heading is shortened.

A shorter panel for foods with little nutrition. You may use it when eight or more of 15 core nutrients are present in insignificant amounts.

**URL:** https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/simplified/
**Provider:** BetterMenu (https://bettermenu.live)
**Rule:** Allowed when most nutrients are near zero. [21 CFR 101.9(f)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)), [21 CFR 101.9(f)(1)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)), [21 CFR 101.9(f)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(4))
**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. Simplified export is not available yet. Studio gives the per-serving numbers, and your designer sets them in the simplified layout.

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

## Do I need this?

Allowed if eight or more of 15 core nutrients round to zero, or six of 12 for infant and toddler foods.

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

- Do 8 or more of these round to zero on the label? (Yes / No) Calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. Carbohydrate, fiber and protein count at “less than 1 g”. For infant and toddler foods, 6 or more of 12.

Decision rules, from the same logic as the page:

- If nutrients at zero is “Yes”, then: You may use this format.
- If nutrients at zero is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Standard vertical.

Next steps once it applies: List every core nutrient and mark the ones that round to zero. Give your designer the simplified sample and the type sizes below.

## How it differs from standard vertical

It lists fewer nutrients than the standard panel. It needs no full footnote. When the heading says “% DV” instead of “% Daily Value”, it ends with “*% DV = % Daily Value”. It can end with “Not a significant source of” and the nutrients left off. That line is required when the panel lists added vitamins or minerals, or other nutrients you choose to list, or the label makes a nutrition claim.

1. Fewer nutrients listed ([21 CFR 101.9(f)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)))
2. “Not a significant source of” line ([21 CFR 101.9(f)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(4)))
3. “*% DV = % Daily Value” ([21 CFR 101.9(f)(5)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(5)))

## FDA sample label

- Simplified format: printed in [21 CFR 101.9(f)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(4)), 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: A few 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” and “% Daily Value*” | 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)) |
| Footnote | Not required. When the heading says “% DV”, end with “*% DV = % Daily Value” | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(f)(5)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(5)) |
| “Not a significant source of …” | At the bottom, naming the nutrients left off, when (f)(4) requires it | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(f)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(4)) |

“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, Simplified format: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/fda/er27my16.008.png

## Common mistakes

- Dropping the footnote and shortening the heading to “% DV” without adding “*% DV = % Daily Value” at the bottom. ([21 CFR 101.9(f)(5)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(5)))
- Leaving off “Not a significant source of …” when the panel lists added vitamins or minerals, or other nutrients you chose to list under (f)(3), or the label makes a nutrition claim. ([21 CFR 101.9(f)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(4)))
- Counting a nutrient as insignificant when it rounds to “less than 1 g” but it is not carbohydrate, fiber or protein. Others must round to zero. ([21 CFR 101.9(f)(1)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f)(1)))

## Example: A 12 fl oz can of lime sparkling water

Calories, fat, carbohydrate, protein and most other core nutrients round to zero. That is well over eight of 15, so the simplified panel is allowed. ([21 CFR 101.9(f)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(f))) An invented product, for illustration.

## Related formats

- [Standard vertical](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/standard-vertical/)
- [Infants through 12 months](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/infants/)
- [Small-package tabular](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/small-package-tabular/)

## Rule text

> “The declaration of nutrition information may be presented in the simplified format set forth herein when a food product contains insignificant amounts of eight or more of the following: Calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium; except that for foods intended for infants through 12 months of age and children 1 through 3 years of age to which paragraph (j)(5)(i) of this section applies, nutrition information may be presented in the simplified format when a food product contains insignificant amounts of six or more of the following: Calories, total fat, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(f), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “An “insignificant amount” shall be defined as that amount that allows a declaration of zero in nutrition labeling, except that for total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and protein, it shall be an amount that allows a declaration of “less than 1 gram.””
> 21 CFR 101.9(f)(1), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “If any nutrients are declared as provided in paragraphs (f)(2)(iii), (f)(2)(iv), or (f)(3) of this section as part of the simplified format or if any nutrition claims are made on the label or in labeling, the statement “Not a significant source of ________” (with the blank filled in with the name(s) of any nutrient(s) identified in paragraph (f) of this section that are present in insignificant amounts) shall be included at the bottom of the nutrition label.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(f)(4), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

> “Except as provided for in paragraphs (j)(5) and (j)(13) of this section, nutrient information declared in the simplified format shall be presented in the same manner as specified in paragraphs (d) or (e) of this section, except that the footnote required in paragraph (d)(9) of this section is not required, and an asterisk shall be placed at the bottom of the label followed by the statement “% DV = % Daily Value” when “Daily Value” is not spelled out in the heading, as shown in paragraph (f)(4).”
> 21 CFR 101.9(f)(5), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

## Frequently asked questions

### When can I use the simplified Nutrition Facts format?

When eight or more of 15 core nutrients are present in insignificant amounts. For foods for infants and children 1 through 3, it is six or more of 12.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(f)

### What is an insignificant amount?

An amount the label can declare as zero. For total carbohydrate, dietary fiber and protein, it is an amount the label can declare as “less than 1 gram.”

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(f)(1)

### When must the label say “Not a significant source of”?

When the panel lists vitamins or minerals added to the food, whether a standard of identity requires them or you add them, or other nutrients you choose to list. Also when the label makes a nutrition claim. The line names the nutrients present in insignificant amounts.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(f)(4), 21 CFR 101.9(f)(2)(iii), 21 CFR 101.9(f)(2)(iv), 21 CFR 101.9(f)(3)

## Machine-readable data

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