Branding · FISA Lab
A label that sells in Mexico is not ready for a US shelf yet.
We design and adapt food labels for the US and Mexico: FDA format, Nutrition Facts and allergens for the US, NOM-051 warning seals for Mexico, and a review against your retailer's ingredient standards.
What a US label needs
Packaged food sold in the US follows 21 CFR Part 101:
- Statement of identity and net quantity on the principal display panel.
- Ingredient list in descending order by weight.
- Allergen statement for the major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. See Food Allergies (FDA).
- Nutrition Facts where required (21 CFR 101.9).
- Name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
- Required information in English. If the label carries any text in another language, all required information must also appear in that language (21 CFR 101.15).
FDA guide: Food Labeling Guide.
What a Mexican label needs
Prepackaged food sold in Mexico follows NOM-051, including the front of pack warning seals (such as EXCESO CALORÍAS, EXCESO SODIO or EXCESO AZÚCARES) and the related legends. Reference: NOM-051 manual (Gobierno de México).
A label can be legal and still fail the retailer
Retail chains apply ingredient standards on top of the law. Artificial colors are a common block in US retail. We review the label against your retailer's list before it goes to print. See why US retailers reject imported food products.
How we work
1. You send your current label, your lab nutrition analysis and your retailer's ingredient list if you have one.
2. We redesign the label for the market where it will sell, in the brand's own design.
3. We review it against federal rules and your retailer's ingredient standards.
4. You receive print-ready files.
Nutrition values come from your lab analysis; we design them, we do not invent them. A compliant label does not guarantee a listing.
Bringing a brand into the US?
FISA also imports and distributes international food brands, with label and ingredient review as part of the program. See US distribution for international food brands and the US food import requirements checklist.
Selected work. Illustration and packaging: Tony Tormenta, FISA Lab partner.
FAQ
Can you turn my Mexican label into a US label?
Yes. We redesign it for FDA format: English, Nutrition Facts, ingredient list, allergen statement and net quantity, inside your brand's design, and review it against federal rules and your retailer's standards.
Where do the Nutrition Facts values come from?
From your lab analysis. We design the panel with your values; we do not estimate them.
Can I keep Spanish on the pack?
Yes, but if the label carries any Spanish text, all required information must also appear in Spanish (21 CFR 101.15).
Do you design NOM-051 labels for Mexico?
Yes. We design the front of pack warning seals and legends inside the brand's design, as on the Neve and Vips pieces.