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Hot Sauce Label

Hot sauce labels need a product name, net quantity, ingredient list, allergen statement, your business address and, in most cases, a Nutrition Facts panel. Serving size is 1 teaspoon. Start from our sample recipe and have a print-ready label in about ten minutes.

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Hot sauce labels on a bottle, front and Nutrition Facts back: 0 calories, 95 mg sodium per 1 teaspoon serving, in the simplified FDA format
Checklist

What has to be on your hot sauce label

Six things, split over the front and the back of the bottle. The numbers match the example below.

Front label
SMALL BATCHSmoky JalapeñoHot Sauce
5 FL OZ (148 mL)
Back label
Nutrition Facts
about 30 servings per container
Serving size1 tsp (5mL)
Calories0
Total Fat 0g0%
Sodium 95mg4%
Total Carb. 0g0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, added sugars, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.
INGREDIENTS: Distilled vinegar, jalapeño, lime juice, salt, garlic.
Allergens: none of the 9 major food allergens.
Made by Ember & Oak Sauce Co.Austin, TX 78704
  1. 1
    Product name21 CFR 101.3
    Say what it is, in plain words, on the front. "Hot sauce" or "Jalapeño hot sauce" works.
  2. 2
    Net quantity21 CFR 101.7
    The amount in the bottle, in fl oz and mL, in the bottom third of the front label.
  3. 3
    Nutrition Facts21 CFR 101.9
    Required unless you qualify for the small business exemption. Most stores ask for one anyway.
  4. 4
    Ingredient list21 CFR 101.4
    Every ingredient, from most to least by weight. Include what is in your vinegar or spice blend.
  5. 5
    Allergen statementFALCPA
    Hot sauce often has none. Watch for soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil or wheat.
  6. 6
    Name and address21 CFR 101.5
    Who made or packed it, with city, state and ZIP code.
Hot sauce rules

Things that are different for hot sauce

1 tspServing sizeThe FDA reference amount for hot sauce is 1 teaspoon (5 mL). Use that, not a tablespoon.21 CFR 101.12
Mostly 0A simpler label is allowedWhen most values round to zero, you may use the shorter "simplified" Nutrition Facts layout. We check this for you.21 CFR 101.9(f)
SodiumThe number buyers readSalt is often the only nutrient that shows up. Weigh your salt carefully, it moves the label more than anything else.
CheckSelling from home?Many states leave hot sauce out of their home-kitchen (cottage food) rules because it is an acidified food. Check your state first.See rules by state →
Sizes

Common bottles and the label that fits

Small bottles have little room, so the label style matters. You can switch styles in the tool any time and see it change.

BottleTypical label areaStyle that usually fits
5 fl oz woozy3 × 1 inSmall package (linear)Most common
10 fl oz woozy3 × 3.5 inSimplified
8 fl oz jar6 × 2 inWide (tabular)
1 gallon jug4 × 6 inStandard (vertical)
Sample recipe included

Start from a hot sauce that's already filled in

Swap in your own peppers and amounts. The label updates as you type.

Start with this recipe
IngredientAmountUnit
Red jalapeños✓ USDA match2cups
White vinegar✓ USDA match1cup
Garlic✓ USDA match6cloves
Lime juice✓ USDA match2tbsp
Salt✓ USDA match4tsp
Makes 3 bottlesServing 1 tsp (5 mL)
Questions

Hot sauce label questions

Not always. Small businesses that meet the FDA small business exemption can skip it, as long as they make no nutrition claims like "low sodium". Most stores and distributors still ask for one. Our free quiz tells you where you stand. Do I Need a Nutrition Label? →

Related pages

GUIDEDo I Need a Nutrition Label?PRODUCTJam labelPRODUCTSpice labelSTYLESmall package (linear) labelBY STATETexas food label rulesFREE TOOLNutrition Facts Label CalculatorLABEL MAKERNutrition Label Generator

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