A serving size on a Nutrition Facts label isn't the maker's choice: it starts from FDA's reference amount for that kind of food, such as 30 grams for cookies, 40 grams for brownies, 55 grams for scones and croissants, and 110 grams for muffins. For foods in units, the unit's weight against the reference amount decides it: 50% or less, as many units as come closest; over 50% and under 67%, one unit or two; 67% up to 200%, one unit; 200% to 300%, the amount closest to the reference amount, plus a second column per unit. An individually wrapped item under 200% is a single serving, the whole thing; one from 200% to 300% gets dual columns, per serving and per package. In the example below, a Michigan wholesale bakery sets serving sizes for its wrapped items.
The short version
- Start from FDA's reference amount for the food.
- A unit 50% or less of it: the number of units closest to the reference amount.
- Over 50% and under 67%: one unit or two.
- 67% up to 200%: one unit.
- 200% to 300%: the amount closest to the reference amount, plus a column per unit.
- Wrapped singly: under 200% is one serving; 200% to 300% gets a column per package too.
- TaroStack keeps each item's recipe by weight, so each unit's weight is on record. More below.
The rules for units
| Unit weight, % of reference amount | Serving size | Extra column |
|---|---|---|
| 50% or less | The number of whole units closest to the reference amount | No |
| Over 50%, under 67% | One unit or two | No |
| 67% to under 200% | One unit | No |
| 200% to 300% | The amount closest to the reference amount | Yes: per unit, or per package if sold singly |
| Sold singly, under 200% | The whole package, one serving | No |
Which claims a serving can carry depends on the reference amount too, in low fat claim and good source of calcium.
The rules
| Rule | Where |
|---|---|
| Discrete units | 50% or less: units closest to the reference amount; over 50% and under 67%: one or two; 67% to under 200%: one; 200% to 300%: the amount closest to the reference amount, with a column per unit (21 CFR 101.9(b)(2)(i)) |
| Single-serving containers | Packaged and sold individually with under 200% of the reference amount: one serving, the whole content (101.9(b)(6)) |
| Dual columns for packages | Packaged and sold individually with 200% to 300%: columns per serving and per package (101.9(b)(12)(i)) |
| Reference amounts | Cookies 30 g; brownies 40 g; muffins and bagels 110 g; scones, croissants, biscuits, tortillas and soft pretzels 55 g (21 CFR 101.12(b)) |
This is general information, not legal advice.
An example: six wrapped items
Lakeview Baking Co., a made-up wholesale bakery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with about $3 million a year in sales, wraps items one by one for convenience stores and cafés, and sets each serving size:
| Item | Weight | Reference amount | % of it | Serving size | Columns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate chip cookie, wrapped | 45 g | 30 g | 150% | 1 cookie | One |
| Giant cookie, wrapped | 85 g | 30 g | 283% | 1/3 cookie (28 g) | Per serving and per cookie |
| Mini cookies, bag of 12 | 14 g each | 30 g | 47% each | 2 cookies (28 g) | One |
| Blueberry muffin, wrapped | 140 g | 110 g | 127% | 1 muffin | One |
| Jumbo muffin, wrapped | 240 g | 110 g | 218% | 1/2 muffin (120 g) | Per serving and per muffin |
| Fudge brownie, wrapped | 120 g | 40 g | 300% | 1/3 brownie (40 g) | Per serving and per brownie |
The giant cookie, jumbo muffin and brownie each fall between 200% and 300%, so their labels carry two columns: one for the serving and one for the whole wrapped item, which is how it's often eaten. The brownie sits right at 300%; at 121 grams it would be over, and the dual-column rule would no longer apply. How baked goods are labeled beyond the panel is in how to label baked goods for sale.
Get the checker
Download the serving size checker. One sheet: each item, its reference amount, its unit weight and whether it's sold singly; the percent of the reference amount, the serving size rule and whether it needs a second column fill in. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
The checker sets the rule from the weight on file. A heavier scoop of batter moves a 196-gram muffin past 200%, and the label stops matching what's in the wrapper.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack keeps each item as a recipe by weight, so the ingredients behind its label are on record for every batch.
Recipes by weight. Each item is a recipe by weight: flour, butter, sugar, eggs and the batter weight for each unit.
Batches from the recipe. Each batch records the recipe it followed and the ingredient lots it used.
Recalls. If a batch went out with the wrong label, one report shows every customer who got it.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| Which recipe a batch followed | Remembered | Each batch from its recipe |
| A recipe change that alters the label | Noticed late | The recipe on record |
| Who got a mislabeled batch | Invoices | One recall report |
Recipes, batches and recalls are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.