Sticking to the Standards: Federal Honey Labeling Requirements
Before you start selling your honey, you need to make sure that it complies with federal, state, and local regulations. There are federal labeling standards that your honey should adhere to.
Common Name
First, the “common” name of the product should be visible on the label—in this case, “honey” should be clearly visible. If the honey is from a primary floral source, the name of the plant or blossom should be labeled too (i.e. Clover honey).
Net Weight
Second, the net weight of your honey should be included on the label in both pounds/ounces and in grams. The weight should be typed in an easy-to-read style, and it should be placed in the lower third of the front label.
When calculating the net weight, use the government conversion of one ounce (oz.) = 28.3495 grams or 1 pound (lb.) = 453.592 grams. The total should be rounded after the conversion, not before, and the net weight on the label shouldn’t surpass more than three digits after the decimal point.
Ingredients
Because honey is a single-ingredient product, it doesn’t have to be named on the label when it is already included in the common name. An ingredient statement should be included if the honey contains ingredients other than honey—spices, flavorings, and incidental additives, “additives that have no functional role and with minimal presence in the finished product,” are exceptions.
According to Honey.com, size of type should follow these guidelines: “The type size for ingredient listings must be no less than 1/16 of an inch as measured by the small letter “o” or by the large letter “O” if all caps are used in the declaration. There are exemptions that allow smaller type sizes for small packages.”
Country of Origin
If your honey is imported, the country of origin must be labeled in English, even if the label already includes approved USDA marks or grade statements. The Federal Register includes additional labeling information for imported products.
Contact Information
The honey label must include who sold the honey and their contact information, which includes the manufacturer, packer, or distributor’s name and address. This is known as the “signature line,” which must be placed on the front label or information panel. Full address and phone number should be included if there is space, and all information should be at least 1/16 of an inch tall.
Color Designations of Honey
The USDA specifies seven different color standard designations that must be identified in the honey label. There are seven color ranges include:
- Water White: “Honey that is Water White or lighter in color.”
- Extra White: “Honey that is darker than Water White, but not darker than Extra White in color.”
- White: “Honey that is darker than Extra White, but not darker than Whtie in color.”
- Extra Light Amber: “Honey that is darker than White, but not darker than Extra Light Amber in color.”
- Light Amber: “Honey that is darker than Extra Light Amber, but not darker than Light Amber in color.”
- Amber: “Honey that is darker than Light Amber, but not darker than Amber in color.”
- Dark Amber: “Honey that is darker than Amber in color.”
Honey Grade Requirements
Finally, the honey’s grade, its quality, needs to be identified on the label. According to the USDA, there are four types of honey grades:
- “U.S. Grade A is the quality of extracted honey that meets the applicable requirements of Table IV or V, and has a minimum total score of 90 points.”
- “U.S. Grade B is the quality of extracted honey that meets the applicable requirements of Table IV or V, and has a minimum total score of 80 points.”
- “U.S. Grade C is the quality of extracted honey that meets the applicable requirements of Table IV or V, and has a minimum total score of 70 points.”
- “Substandard is the quality of extracted honey that fails to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.”
Once your honey meets all of the above requirements, it meets federal labeling regulations. Next, check your state’s labeling requirements, which vary by state. Your honey is good to sell if it passes both federal and state requirements!
If you want a comprehensive list of all the rules your honey labeling must follow, you can go here.