This blog is provided to you by Stephanie Zamora with the Independence Regional Ennovation Center.
Most Americans want to feel comfortable that the foods they buy are safe and nutritious, and they want to know where their food is made. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has heeded the demands of its citizens and requires that food manufacturers place certain specific information on their product labels in the correct arrangement, in readable type font size, and in truthful language.
Unwittingly breaking any of these rules can be expensive and a needless waste of energy for a young business. It is true that small food manufacturers are exempt from these requirements if they employ fewer than 100 full-time employees and sell fewer than 100,000 units of product in the United Sates in a 12-month period. To qualify for this exemption, however, these producers must file a notice annually with the FDA. Also, food manufacturers that sell their products to a retailer whose gross sales total less than $500,000 per year, or whose foods sales total less than $50,000 per year, also are exempt.
New food manufacturers want to put their best—most professional—foot forward and gain credibility with the new customers and retailers they are hoping to impress. Proper labeling from the start gives consumers all the information they need to feel comfortable that your product can be trusted. Many shoppers must scrutinize labels due to food intolerances. Don’t miss sales because your product looks a little too homemade.
Understanding FDA labeling is not difficult. To make it even easier, The Ennovation Center will hold a food product labeling roundtable on Tuesday, August 21st from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Ennovation Center, 201 N. Forest Ave., Independence, Mo. Speakers will discuss legal labeling, design insight, label and packaging choices, and how to work with a printer. Register today to be sure you have a seat at the table http://ennovationcenter.eventbrite.com/
This workshop will be facilitated by Lisa D. Stewart helps businesses search for grant funding, craft business plans, conduct feasibility studies for new product launches, and writes feature articles for release to general media and industry journals. She was co-founder of the largest custom saddlery in the United States, Ortho-Flex Saddle Company of Nevada, Mo., and has launched assisted in the launch of three successful specialty food products for clients.