# Standard Vertical Nutrition Facts Label

The familiar panel. Nutrients run down one column with the %DV on the right.

The default panel for most packaged foods. Use it unless another format applies to your product.

**URL:** https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/standard-vertical/
**Provider:** BetterMenu (https://bettermenu.live)
**Rule:** Default for most foods. [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)), [21 CFR 101.9(d)(12)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(12))
**Source:** FDA 21 CFR 101.9, eCFR as of 2026-02-12
**In BetterMenu Studio:** Yes. Studio works out the per-serving and per-package numbers from your recipe and exports this panel.

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

## Do I need this?

The default if the food is for everyone 4 and older, a 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:

- 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)
- 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.
- 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 the label use a second language anywhere? (Yes / No) Any wording on the label in a language other than English.
- Does a regular tabular panel fit on any side? (Yes / No) If not, the small-package tabular or linear label is allowed.
- Is it a raw fruit, vegetable or fish with no nutrition claims or other nutrition information? (Yes / No) Anywhere: on the label, in labeling or in ads.

Decision rules, from the same logic as the page:

- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and panel height is “Under about 3 in” 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 Small-package tabular.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes” and panel height is “About 3 in or more” 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. A small-package format is also allowed here.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” or “Pregnant or lactating women” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “No”, then: You may use this format. This package may print a contact line instead of a panel. If you print one, this panel is allowed.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and package size is “Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually” or “One unit: 200% to 300%” or “Popcorn package: 200% to 300%”, then: Not this format. Use Dual column.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” 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 who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “Yes” and panel height is “Under about 3 in” 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, 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 Tabular.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and 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, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No” and second language is “Yes”, then: You need the standard vertical label. In English and the second language.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and 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, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No” and second language is “No”, then: You need the standard vertical label.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and tabular fit is “Yes” and package size is “Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually” or “One unit: 200% to 300%” or “Popcorn package: 200% to 300%”, then: Not this format. Use Dual column.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “Yes” 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, 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 Tabular.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “No” and promoted use is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Add a second column for the promoted use (§ 101.9(b)(11)).
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in” and vertical fit is “No” and tabular fit is “No” 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 Small-package tabular.
- If printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “Yes”, then: No panel required (§ 101.9(j)(10)). FDA points raw fruits, vegetables and fish to its guidelines in 21 CFR 101.45.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No” and package size is “Package: 200% to 300%, sold individually” or “One unit: 200% to 300%” or “Popcorn package: 200% to 300%”, then: Not this format. Use Dual column.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No” 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 who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No” and panel height is “Under about 3 in” 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, 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 Tabular.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No” 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, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No” and second language is “Yes”, then: You need the standard vertical label. In English and the second language.
- If who it is for is “Everyone 4 and older” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No” 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, but it is a bulk ingredient such as flour, a multipurpose food such as butter, or a multipurpose baking mix” or “No” and second language is “No”, then: You need the standard vertical label.
- If who it is for is “Infants through 12 months” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” or “12 to 40 sq in”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months.
- If who it is for is “Infants through 12 months” and raw produce or fish is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months.
- If who it is for is “Children 1 through 3” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” or “12 to 40 sq in”, then: Not this format. Use Children 1 through 3.
- If who it is for is “Children 1 through 3” and raw produce or fish is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Children 1 through 3.
- If who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” or “12 to 40 sq in”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months (two %DV columns).
- If who it is for is “Infants and children 1 through 3” and raw produce or fish is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Infants through 12 months (two %DV columns).
- If who it is for is “Pregnant or lactating women” and printable area is “Under 12 sq in” and nutrition claims is “Yes”, then: Not this format. Use Pregnant or lactating women.
- If who it is for is “Pregnant or lactating women” and printable area is “12 to 40 sq in”, then: Not this format. Use Pregnant or lactating women.
- If who it is for is “Pregnant or lactating women” and printable area is “Over 40 sq in” and raw produce or fish is “No”, then: Not this format. Use Pregnant or lactating women.

Next steps once it applies: Make it in Studio from your recipe. Send your designer the spec below.

## Variants and related formats

Every other format starts from this panel. Some change the layout, some add columns and some change the Daily Values.

- [Side by side](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/side-by-side/): Allowed on a single-column vertical panel
- [Simplified](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/simplified/): Allowed when most nutrients are near zero
- [Tabular](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/tabular/): Allowed when the panel space is under about 3 in tall
- [Dual column](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/dual-column/): Required at 200% to 300% of the reference amount
- [Per 100 g column](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/per-100g-column/): Allowed as a second column
- [As prepared column](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/dual-column-as-prepared/): Allowed for foods prepared before eating
- [Bilingual](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/bilingual/): Required when the label uses a second language
- [Aggregate](https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/aggregate/): Allowed for variety packs

## FDA sample label

- Standard vertical: 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: Tall and narrow. It needs about 3 in of unbroken height for the 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)) |
| Line between rows | A hairline rule | Rule text | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(v)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(v)) |
| Hairline weight | 0.25 pt | BetterMenu’s choice | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(v)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(v)) |
| Bar under Calories | About 3.25 pt | From FDA’s sample | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(6)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(6)) |
| Bar under the serving size | About 7 pt | BetterMenu’s choice | [21 CFR 101.9(d)(4)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(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, Standard vertical: https://bettermenu.live/tools/label-formats/fda/er27my16.001.png

## Common mistakes

- Bolding a word the rule does not list, such as “Total Sugars”. Only the headings, the main nutrient names and the %DV figures are bold. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iv)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iv)))
- Setting nutrient rows under 8 pt to make the panel fit. Measure first, then pick a smaller format if it does not fit. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1)(iii)))
- Keeping one column on a package sold individually that holds 200% to 300% of the reference amount. That needs a dual column, unless an exemption applies, such as a small package. ([21 CFR 101.9(b)(12)(i)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(b)(12)(i)))

## Example: A 16 oz bag of granola

The bag is far over 40 sq in, with a back panel 5 in tall. The food is for everyone 4 and older and the bag holds many servings. The standard vertical panel is the default. ([21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-101.9#p-101.9(d)(1))) An invented product, for illustration.

## Rule text

> “Nutrient information specified in paragraph (c) of this section shall be presented on foods in the following format, as shown in paragraph (d)(12) of this section, except on foods where the tabular display is permitted as provided for in paragraph (d)(11) of this section, on which dual columns of nutrition information are declared as provided for in paragraph (e) of this section, on those food products on which the simplified format is required to be used as provided for in paragraph (f) of this section, on foods for infants through 12 months of age and children 1 through 3 years of age as provided for in paragraph (j)(5) of this section, and on foods in small or intermediate-sized packages as provided for in paragraph (j)(13) of this section.”
> 21 CFR 101.9(d)(1), eCFR as of 2026-02-12

## Frequently asked questions

### When do I use the standard vertical Nutrition Facts label?

Use it unless another format applies. Other formats cover small packages, short panels, a package sold individually that holds 200% to 300% of the reference amount, foods for infants, young children or pregnant women, and variety packs.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)

### Can the vitamins and minerals sit side by side?

Yes. You may list vitamin D and calcium on one line and iron and potassium on the next. That is the side-by-side display.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(8)

### Can I shorten nutrient names on a standard vertical panel?

From FDA’s abbreviation list, only “Vit.” and “Potas.” on a package over 40 sq in, and only on the side-by-side display. A package of 40 sq in or less may use every short name on that list, whatever its display. Any panel may print “Saturated fat” as “Saturated” and “Trans fat” as “Trans”.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B), 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii), 21 CFR 101.9(c)(2)(i), 21 CFR 101.9(c)(2)(ii)

### What is the minimum font size for a standard vertical label?

Nutrient rows 8 pt, “Calories” 16 pt and its number 22 pt, servings per container and serving size 10 pt, and the headings and footnote 6 pt.

Sources: 21 CFR 101.9(d)(1)(iii), 21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(i), 21 CFR 101.9(d)(3)(ii)

### Can BetterMenu make a standard vertical label?

Yes. BetterMenu Studio works out the per-serving and per-package numbers from your recipe and exports the standard vertical panel.

## Machine-readable data

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