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Principal display panel and information panel, explained

FDA labeling isn't only about which pieces of information you include — it's about where each one goes. The rules split your package into two regulated zones: the principal display panel and the information panel. Put the right element in the wrong place and it's a violation. Here's the map.

Updated August 6, 2026 · 4 min read · Sourced from FDA guidance

The two panels

Every packaged food label has two regulated areas. The principal display panel (PDP) is the part shoppers see first — the front — under 21 CFR 101.1. The information panel is the label panel immediately to the right of the PDP as the product sits on the shelf, under 21 CFR 101.2 (if that panel can't be used, it moves to the next usable one to the right).

What goes on the front (PDP)

The principal display panel must carry two things:

  • The statement of identity — the food's common or usual name (21 CFR 101.3). It must be a principal feature of the panel, in bold type, in lines generally parallel to the base, and reasonably related to the most prominent print — FDA reads that as at least half the height of the largest text on the panel. A tiny 'salsa' under a giant photo doesn't qualify.
  • The net quantity of contents (21 CFR 101.7) — in the bottom 30% of the PDP (packages with a PDP of 5 square inches or less are exempt from that placement), in both US customary and metric units ('Net Wt 12 oz (340 g)'), set off as a distinct line from other text.
Note

The area of the PDP is measured by shape: for a rectangular package it is height × width of the front; for a cylinder it is 40% of (height × circumference); tops, bottoms, and necks are excluded. That area also sets the required type size for the net-quantity statement.

What goes on the information panel

The panel to the right of the front carries the rest of the mandatory information:

  • The Nutrition Facts panel (21 CFR 101.9).
  • The ingredient list (21 CFR 101.4).
  • The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor (21 CFR 101.5).
  • The allergen 'Contains' statement, when used.
Important

No intervening material. The required information on the information panel can't be interrupted by promotional copy, artwork, or anything non-required (21 CFR 101.2). Keep the Nutrition Facts, ingredient list, allergen statement, and business-address block together and uninterrupted.

The type-size floor

All required information on the PDP or information panel must be at least 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) in height, measured by the lowercase letter 'o' in your typeface (21 CFR 101.2). Smaller sizes are allowed only on small packages under specific exemptions — see nutrition label formats for small packages. For most labels, 1/16 inch is the floor, not the goal: crowding the legal minimum is how labels become unreadable and fail review.

Putting it together

Design the front (statement of identity + net weight) and the information panel (Nutrition Facts + ingredients + allergens + business name) as two distinct blocks from the start — retrofitting placement later is where small brands lose time. The Nutrition Facts label generator builds the panel that anchors the information panel; for the full inventory of required elements, see the required label elements, and for the ingredient statement, how to write an ingredient list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the principal display panel?
The part of a food label most likely to be seen by consumers at retail — usually the front. Under 21 CFR 101.1 it must carry the statement of identity (the product name) and the net quantity of contents.
What must go on the information panel?
The Nutrition Facts panel, the ingredient list, the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, and the allergen 'Contains' statement. It is the panel immediately to the right of the principal display panel.
Where does the net weight go on a food label?
In the bottom 30% of the principal display panel, in lines parallel to the base, in both US customary and metric units (for example 'Net Wt 12 oz (340 g)'). Packages with a PDP of 5 square inches or less are exempt from the bottom-30% placement.
What is the minimum type size on a food label?
Required information on the principal display panel or information panel must be at least 1/16 inch in height, measured by the lowercase 'o,' under 21 CFR 101.2. Smaller sizes are allowed only on small packages.
How big does the product name have to be?
The statement of identity must be prominent and reasonably related to the most prominent print on the front panel — FDA reads that as at least half the height of the largest text on the panel.

Sources

Related tools & guides

This guide is general educational information, not legal advice, and labeling rules can change. Your obligations depend on your specific products, claims, sales, and state. Verify your situation against the current FDA guidance and eCFR linked above, or consult a qualified food-labeling professional, before printing a label.