Foods That Are Exempt from Federal Nutrition
Labeling
Question: Are there any foods that are exempt from federal nutrition labeling
requirements?
Yes, under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, these foods are
exempt from nutrition labeling:
- food served for immediate consumption, such as that
served in hospital cafeterias and airplanes, and that sold by food service
vendors (such as mall cookie counters, sidewalk vendors and vending machines);
- ready-to-eat food that is not for immediate
consumption but is prepared primarily on site (such as bakery, deli and candy
store items);
- food shipped in bulk, as long as it is not for sale
in that form to consumers;
- medical foods, such as those used to address the
nutritional needs of patients with certain diseases;
- plain coffee and tea, some spices, and other foods that contain no
significant amounts of any nutrients.
For more on food labeling, see following articles:
SOURCE: US Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)
Last Editorial Review: 8/8/2006
