FDA 21 CFR § 101.5

FDA Manufacturer Address Label Requirements

Food labels sold in the U.S. must identify the manufacturer, packer, or distributor responsible for the product, along with a verifiable address. This information must appear on the information panel and must be complete enough for consumers to contact the responsible party.

Required Information

The name and place of business must include all of the following:

Manufacturer vs. Distributor Wording

If the product is not manufactured by the company whose name appears on the label, a qualifying phrase is required to clarify the relationship.

Manufactured by
Example Foods Inc.
123 Oak Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Distributed by (different from manufacturer)
Distributed by: Example Brands LLC
New York, NY 10001
Manufactured for
Manufactured for: Example Foods
Austin, TX 78701
Packed by
Packed by: Example Packing Co.
Seattle, WA 98101

When You Can Omit the Street Address

The street address may be omitted if the company is listed in a current city directory, telephone directory, or trade directory that is available to the public. However, the city, state, and ZIP code must always be present.

Tip: If you're unsure whether your company is listed in a public directory, it's safest to include the full street address. Omitting it when not actually listed in a directory is a labeling violation.

Foreign Manufacturers and Importers

For products manufactured outside the U.S. and imported by a U.S. company, the label must identify the U.S. importer or distributor. The foreign manufacturer's address may also be included, but the U.S. contact information is the minimum requirement.

Imported product example
Imported by: Example Import Co.
Miami, FL 33101
Product of Italy

Common Mistakes

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