Shawn wanted some assistance with marketing honey, “Can you help me out with what is required for labeling of honey containers? I have labels but want them to be correct.”

The National Honey Board, www.honey.com , recommends following Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for guidance regarding honey labels. Basic labels must communicate the following:

The “Common” Name of the Product

The word “honey” must be visible on the label. The name of a plant or blossom may be used if it is the primary floral source for the honey. Honey must be labeled with its common or usual name on the front of your package. (i.e., “Honey” or “Clover Honey”).

Net Weight

The net weight of your product (excluding packaging), both in pounds/ounces and in metric weight (grams) must be included in the lower third of your front label panel in easy-to-read type (e.g., Net Wt. 16 oz. (454 g)). When determining net weight, use the government conversion factor of one ounce (oz.) = 28.3495 grams or 1 pound (lb.) = 453.592 grams. Round after making the calculation, not before. Use no more than three digits after the decimal point on the package. One may round down the final weight to avoid overstating the contents. When rounding, use typical mathematical rounding rules.

Ingredients

Single-ingredient products (such as honey) do not have to name that single ingredient when already used in the common or usual name on the front panel. However, if there are ingredients other than honey, you must list them in an ingredient statement. Some exceptions are spices, flavorings, and incidental additives (additives that have no functional role and with minimal presence in the finished product), which have special rules.

The type size for ingredient listings must be no less than 1/16 of an inch as measured by the small letter “o” or by the large letter “O” if all caps are used in the declaration. There are exemptions that allow smaller type sizes for small packages.

Country of Origin

Honey packers must include conspicuous and indelible labeling, in English, naming the country of origin of all imported products, regardless of whether the product labeling uses approved USDA marks or grade statements. For further Country of Origin Labeling information, please review the rules and regulations detailed in the Federal Register.

Contact Information

The label must let consumers know who put the product on the market and how to contact that person. The name and the address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of a packaged food product are required to appear on the label of the packaged food. This information, sometimes referred to as the “signature line,” must appear on the front label panel or the information panel. If space permits include a full address and telephone number. The information must be in a type size that is at least 1/16 of an inch tall.

If you want to contact “Beehive Buzz”, please send your questions and pictures to Keith Hawkins, Area Horticulture Agent (AHA), 318.264.2448 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu . Also, you can be on the “beemail” email list by emailing your request to the address above.

“Before you buy or use an insecticide product, first read the label, and strictly follow label recommendations. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by Louisiana State University AgCenter.”

“This work has been supported, in part, by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Renewable Resources Extension Act Award, Accession Number 1011417.”