Guide
How to label trail mix for FDA retail sale
Trail mix is a FALCPA stress test. A US pouch needs the name, net weight, every nut named as that nut, peanuts kept separate from tree nuts, sesame if it is in the seed mix, chocolate’s soy lecithin, raisins that are just raisins, Nutrition Facts, and an address. “Mountain blend” is not an ingredients list.
Reviewed against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.
The short answer
Trail mix is a FALCPA stress test. A US pouch needs the name, net weight, every nut named as that nut, peanuts kept separate from tree nuts, sesame if it is in the seed mix, chocolate’s soy lecithin, raisins that are just raisins, Nutrition Facts, and an address. “Mountain blend” is not an ingredients list.
Where this shows up in a real kitchen
The same bin can hold almonds, cashews, peanuts, coconut chips, sunflower seeds, sesame sticks and yogurt pretzels (milk, wheat). Brands print Contains: nuts and think they are done. FDA wants the type. A “nut-free” school mix that still has sesame sticks fails FASTER.
The US rule
FDA packaged food. FALCPA requires the specific tree-nut names and “peanut” as its own major. Sesame since 2023. Wheat in pretzels. Milk in yogurt coatings. Soy in chocolate. Serving size for mixed nuts/snacks follows the RACC, not “a handful”.
How to apply it
Sort the mix by weight. List peanuts, almonds, raisins, chocolate (soy lecithin), sesame sticks (wheat, sesame). Contains: peanut, almond, soy, wheat, sesame — plus cashew or pecan if they are in. Recalculate when you swap coconut for pepitas.
- Weigh this batch, not last quarter’s spec.
- Name every tree nut and keep peanut on its own line in Contains.
- Check pretzels, chocolate and yogurt bits for wheat, soy and milk.
- Set net weight and a snack serving, not a marketing pinch.
Worked example
10 oz “Summit mix”: peanuts, raisins, almonds, dark chocolate (soy lecithin), sesame sticks (wheat flour, sesame seeds). Contains: peanut, almond, soy, wheat, sesame. No leftover cashew from last month’s formula. Nutrition Facts for 1 oz (28 g) or the current RACC.
Checks that belong on this pack
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Peanut is not filed under tree nuts | They are different majors. |
| Almond, cashew, pecan, coconut are named if present | “Nuts” is not enough. |
| Sesame sticks declare sesame and usually wheat | A stick is a compound ingredient. |
| School “nut-free” mix is actually free of peanuts and tree nuts | Sesame still has to be named if it is there. |
Contains: nuts on a mix that is half peanuts
A peanut-allergic shopper who can eat almonds still needs the word peanut. A tree-nut-allergic shopper still needs almond or cashew, not a lump word.
What LabelClear can and cannot print
Paste the mix in weight order and mark peanut, each tree nut, sesame, wheat, milk and soy that are actually in the bag. Then add net weight — the generator will not portion a RACC.
Questions
Do sunflower seeds need a Contains line?
Is coconut a tree nut here?
Can I say “processed in a facility that also handles peanuts” instead of declaring peanuts?
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.
- Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA)U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Food allergiesU.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Food Labeling GuideU.S. Food and Drug Administration
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