In 2016 the FDA finalized an update to the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods. The current panel is that 2016 design: larger calories, a new Added Sugars line, updated Daily Values, and Vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium as the core micronutrients. If you are building a label in 2026, you want this version — not the pre-2016 “Calories from Fat” panel.
What changed in 2016
- Calories are larger and bolder so they are harder to miss.
- “Calories from Fat” was removed.
- Added sugars must be listed under Total Sugars, with %DV.
- Serving sizes were updated toward what people actually eat (RACC updates).
- Daily Values for several nutrients were revised, so %DV math changed.
- Vitamin D and potassium were added to the required micronutrient set; vitamins A and C are no longer required (they can still appear voluntarily).
FDA summarized the update here: Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label. Large manufacturers had to switch by 2020; smaller ones by 2021. New labels should not look like 1990s panels.
Why it still matters
Buyers, printers, and retailers expect the current panel. A homemade “nutrition box” missing Added Sugars or still showing Calories from Fat looks non-current even if your recipe math is honest. Dual-column, linear, and bilingual versions of the label are also built on this same 2016 nutrient list — see dual column and linear for small packages.
How this maker follows the 2016 panel
Every format in the label catalog is modeled on the current FDA layouts, including Added Sugars and the larger calorie line. You still enter the numbers. The tool does not update Daily Values for you if you type the wrong %DV. For a walkthrough: how to make a Nutrition Facts label.
Open a 2016-style Standard Vertical labelFAQ
Can I still use the old label if my inventory is leftover?
That is a compliance timing question for your operation, not something this site can clear. New artwork should use the current format.
Does “modeled on FDA 2016” mean the FDA certified my PDF?
No. See the disclaimer.
General information. Always check current FDA regulations and guidance for your product category.
