Guide
How to choose label size for sandwiches
Pick a label wide enough for a full ingredients list at readable x-height — often 50–62 mm continuous thermal stock for wraps and triangle sandwiches. If the list wraps into unreadability, use a larger label or a second panel.
Reviewed against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.
The short answer
Pick a label wide enough for a full ingredients list at readable x-height — often 50–62 mm continuous thermal stock for wraps and triangle sandwiches. If the list wraps into unreadability, use a larger label or a second panel.
Control masters, reprint when recipes change, and train staff not to improvise labels. Process beats memory on a busy service.
How to apply it
Pick a label wide enough for a full ingredients list at readable x-height — often 50–62 mm continuous thermal stock for wraps and triangle sandwiches. If the list wraps into unreadability, use a larger label or a second panel. Control masters, reprint when recipes change, and train staff not to improvise labels. Process beats memory on a busy service. Walk the product in front of you against the checklist below before you print. The mistake to refuse is: Cost per roll is wasted if you cannot fit the list.
- Measure your longest ingredients list
- Print a test on cold packaging
- Prefer wider continuous labels
- Avoid decorative stickers that clip text
Worked example
Worked example for “How to choose label size for sandwiches”: take one real SKU you sell this week. Apply the first check — measure your longest ingredients list. Then contrast it with print a test on cold packaging. Write the name of the food and the full ingredients list from today’s recipe and supplier specs, emphasise every Annex II allergen each time it appears, and only then print. If the pack in your hand does not match that list, it is not ready for sale. (Pick a label wide enough for a full ingredients list at readable x-height — often 50–62 mm continuous thermal stock for wraps and triangle sandwiches.)
Checklist before you print
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Measure your longest ingredients list | For “How to choose label size for sandwiches”, “Measure your longest ingredients list” is the check that stops the pack drifting from what you actually sell. |
| Print a test on cold packaging | For “How to choose label size for sandwiches”, “Print a test on cold packaging” is the check that stops the pack drifting from what you actually sell. |
| Prefer wider continuous labels | For “How to choose label size for sandwiches”, “Prefer wider continuous labels” is the check that stops the pack drifting from what you actually sell. |
| Avoid decorative stickers that clip text | For “How to choose label size for sandwiches”, “Avoid decorative stickers that clip text” is the check that stops the pack drifting from what you actually sell. |
Buying the cheapest tiny labels first
Cost per roll is wasted if you cannot fit the list.
Go deeper
Next: PPDS label size requirements. x-height and practical formats. Then paste your ingredients into the free generator and confirm allergens before you print.
Questions
Is there an official sandwich label size?
Can I put ingredients on a peel-out flap?
Official sources
Everything on this page traces back to these. Where they and we disagree, they are right — tell us and we'll fix it.
- Introduction to allergen labelling for PPDS foodFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
- Labelling guidance for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food productsFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
- Food allergen labelling and information requirements technical guidanceFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
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