This builds on serving sizes and the RACC. If you're new to how serving sizes are set, start with the serving sizes & RACC guide.
The problem dual columns solve
Before 2016, a package with, say, three servings showed nutrition only per serving — so a shopper who ate the whole thing had to do the math. The 2016 redesign fixed this for packages people might reasonably finish in one sitting, requiring a second column that shows the amounts for the entire container. The rule lives in 21 CFR 101.9(b)(12).
It all depends on the RACC
Whether you need one column or two depends on how the package size compares to the Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) for that food. There are four bands:
| Package size vs. RACC | How it's labeled |
|---|---|
| Less than 150% | Single-serving — the whole container is one serving (one column) |
| 150% to under 200% | Single-serving; a second per-serving column may be added voluntarily |
| 200% up to and including 300% | Dual-column required — per serving and per container |
| More than 300% | Multi-serving — labeled per serving (no dual-column requirement) |
So a 20-ounce soda (about 167% of the 12-ounce RACC) is now a single serving — one column for the whole bottle — because people typically drink it all at once. A package holding two to three servings that could go either way gets the dual column.
What the two columns show
When dual-column applies, the label shows, side by side:
- Per serving — the amounts and %DVs for the RACC-based serving size (the long-standing column), and
- Per container (or per unit for multi-unit packs) — the amounts and %DVs if you consume the whole thing.
For products made of discrete units — say, a package of muffins — where a single unit is 200–300% of the RACC, the second column is per unit instead of per container.
Exemptions
Not every 200–300% package needs dual columns. The rule includes exemptions — for example, certain products that require further preparation and some others under 21 CFR 101.9(b)(12)(ii). When in doubt, check the regulation or the FDA's dual-column guidance.
Building a dual-column label
If your product lands in the 200–300% band, you'll need both columns. The Nutrition Facts label generator includes a dual-column format among its layouts; work out your serving size first with the serving sizes guide, then calculate per-serving values with the recipe nutrition calculator.