5 Things to Know About Labeling Frozen Foods

According to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), the ability to freeze food is the act of pressing nature’s pause button. Frozen foods provide the benefit of affordability, convenience, food safety, and food freshness. And in celebration of frozen foods, the month of March is dedicated to Frozen Food Month. However, frozen foods must meet all regulations and requirements for USDA and FDA labels. Below, we’ll discuss these guidelines in more detail to help you put your best foot forward during Frozen Food Month.

1.     Follow USDA Guidelines

A lot of work goes into the creation of food and beverage products, and frozen foods are no exception. If your frozen food products include meat or eggs, you need to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) frozen food guidelines. While these are only the basic guidelines, all frozen foods regulated by the USDA must contain the following information on the product label: the product name, a handling statement, safe handling instructions, an inspection legend, net weight information, an ingredients list (including all potential allergens), a nutrition facts label, and the company’s name and address.

2.     Follow FDA Guidelines

All pre-packaged frozen foods not monitored by the USDA are monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Like frozen foods monitored by the USDA, FDA labels must contain the following information: the name of the food product (or a statement of identity), the net weight of the product, the company’s name and address, a list of ingredients, and a nutrition facts label. As you can see, the main difference between USDA and FDA labels is the need to include safe handling instructions on USDA labels.

3.     Single State Guidelines

Generally, smaller food companies do not need to follow federal labeling regulations if the food product is only sold in the state it is produced. However, frozen food manufacturers must always follow their state’s specific food guidelines. To learn more about your specific state’s food service regulations, visit the FDA’s website.

4.     Small Business Exemptions

While all meat and egg product producers must follow USDA guidelines, many small business are exempt from FDA labeling regulations. Visit the FDA’s website for additional small business labeling regulations.

5.     Freezer-Grade FDA Labels

In addition to the rules and regulations of labeling frozen foods, the product label material you use is another important factor to consider. At SheetLabels.com, we sell agriculture labels, food product labels, and more. When it comes to labeling frozen foods, you mustn’t use anything less than strong and long-lasting weatherproof or all temperature product labels. For example, our Vinyl Laser Weatherproof labels can be used in temperatures as low as 30 below, and our White Polyester Weatherproof labels may be used in temperatures as low as 40 below. Other freezer-friendly label options include our White Uncoated All Temperature labels (which are FDA-approved and suitable for temperatures as low as 65 below) or our High-Tack White Polyester Weatherproof labels (which are suitable for temperatures as low as 45 below). When you sell frozen foods, your labels need to withstand freezing temperatures, and we have plenty of freezer-friendly labeling options for you to choose from. Contact us to learn more!