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Honey Labelling

Overview

Various laws cover labelling of foods, and honey is certainly covered.

• If you sell within your state, you need to ensure you follow your state's requirements.
• If you sell across state lines, then the U.S. FDA's and USDA's regulations also apply. If you are going to sell this way, I advise you contact your local FDA and USDA offices to ensure you are in compliance, especially as you probably need to include nutrition facts (e.g., calories, amounts of cholesterol, sodium, etc.). Being out of compliance can be very costly.

As a general rule, your label needs to include:

1. What is in the bottle
2. How to contact you if the consumer has questions
3. How much is in the bottle, in both ounces (weight) and grams.

Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products: Guidance for Industry from the FDA is a good reference to read. I especially like:

Final notes:

1. In many states, honey is often seen as a cottage food. The web site, The Legal Requirements for Selling Honey (in 50 States) from Bootstrap Bee seems to be a good state-by-state reference.
2. In some states, when anything is added to the honey, this now qualifies as a manufactured food which has very different rules, especially as it applies to the kitchen (both cleanliness, declaration of such a site, and inspection of the site). Be sure to check your state's rules.
3. If you sell any cosmetic products (e.g., lip balm) or medical products (e.g., propolis tincture), be sure to check those laws also. The U.S. FDA certainly covers those as it was founded by the U.S. Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act of 1938.

More Information

Web Sites

• Ohio Department of Agriculture's Labelling Requirements for Honey

Some U.S. regulations are noted below; there may be more.

• FDA's web site
  • FDA's Guidance for Industry: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products
  • National Honey Board's Summary of the FDA's Nutrition Facts Panel for Honey
• USDA's web site
  • USDA's Packed Honey – Country of Origin Labeling
  • USDA's Organic Products Labeling