Every packaged food product sold in American Samoa must carry a compliant label. Here is exactly what must appear, how to format it, and what the territory's 2017 labeling guidelines require of home food sellers.
In 2017, American Samoa adopted mandatory national labeling guidelines for packaged foods and drinks — the first territory-wide food labeling standard. These guidelines align with international Codex Alimentarius standards and apply to all packaged food products sold in the territory. Because there is no separate cottage food labeling exemption, home food sellers must comply with these general labeling requirements. The specific label elements below represent the minimum required under these guidelines, aligned with FDA food labeling standards applicable to American Samoa as a U.S. territory. View territorial regulations →
These seven elements are required on every packaged food product sold commercially in American Samoa. Missing any one of them puts you out of compliance with the 2017 labeling guidelines and FDA labeling requirements applicable to the territory.
Net Wt 8 oz (227 g) · Liquid: Net 8 fl oz (237 mL) · Small unit: Net Wt 1.5 oz (42 g)chocolate chips (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, vanilla extract).
flour (wheat) — or (2) in a separate "Contains:" statement immediately following the ingredient list.
Best By: 15 SEP 2026 · Best Before: September 15, 2026Lot: 2026-04-05-A · Batch: 0405A · Lot Code: 260405 (YYMMDD format)This annotated mock label shows how all required elements come together on a real product label for the American Samoa market.
American Samoa has no official cottage food disclaimer statement — because it has no cottage food law. However, including a home kitchen disclaimer on your label is strongly recommended as a matter of transparency and good practice. It mirrors the standard used in cottage food-regulated states and aligns with what ASDOH is likely to expect from a permitted home food seller.
FDA's Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), updated by the FASTER Act (2023), requires that nine major allergens be declared on food labels. These federal requirements apply to packaged foods in American Samoa. Failure to declare an allergen can be grounds for a product recall and health permit action.
Net quantity declaration is both a labeling requirement and a consumer protection issue. The declared weight or volume must be accurate — consistently under-filling is a regulatory violation; consistently over-filling wastes product and money.
Net Wt 4 oz (113 g) · Net Wt 8 oz (227 g) · Net Wt 12 oz (340 g)Net Wt 28 gNet 4 fl oz (118 mL) · Net 8 fl oz (237 mL) · Net 16 fl oz (473 mL)These technical requirements ensure labels are legible and consistently formatted. They are drawn from FDA labeling regulations (21 CFR Part 101) applicable to American Samoa as a U.S. territory.
| Requirement | Rule | American Samoa Note |
|---|---|---|
| Label language | English required. Additional languages (Samoan) permitted but do not replace English requirement | Including Samoan text alongside English is culturally appropriate and encouraged for local market appeal — but all required elements must also appear in English |
| Principal display panel | The front face of the package most likely seen at point of purchase. Must show product name and net quantity | For jars, this is typically the front label. For bags, the largest face. For boxes, the front panel. |
| Information panel | The label panel immediately to the right of the principal display panel when facing the product. Contains ingredient list, allergens, name & address | For round jars, any side panel adjacent to the front label qualifies. Many small producers put all required info on a single back label — this is acceptable if all elements are present |
| Net quantity font size | Minimum 1/16 inch (1.6mm) for packages ≤5 sq in PDP. 3/16 inch for 5–25 sq in. 1/4 inch for 25–100 sq in | Most home food product labels fall in the 5–25 sq in range — use at least 3/16 inch (about 14pt) type for net quantity |
| Ingredient list font size | Minimum 1/16 inch (about 6pt) on packages with a total label area of 12 sq in or less. 1/8 inch for larger packages | Do not go below 6pt — it becomes unreadable and legally non-compliant. Aim for 8–9pt minimum for readability in bright Pacific sunlight at a market stall |
| Allergen declaration type | Must be set in type of the same size and style as the ingredient list, or in bold type to draw attention | Bold "Contains:" statements are strongly recommended — they stand out clearly and reduce the risk a consumer misses the allergen disclosure |
| Date format | No mandated format — use any clear date format. Avoid ambiguous formats (04/05/26 could be April 5 or May 4) | Recommend: day-month-year format common in Pacific territories: 05 APR 2026 or April 5, 2026 |
| Nutrition Facts panel | Required for most packaged foods. Small business exemption applies if: fewer than 100 FTEs AND fewer than 100,000 units sold per year | Most American Samoa home food sellers qualify for the small business exemption (21 CFR § 101.9(j)(1)). If you claim the exemption, document your annual unit production. As your business grows, reassess annually. |
Create compliant American Samoa food labels with all required fields pre-formatted — product name, net weight, ingredients, allergens, seller info, and home kitchen disclaimer. Download as print-ready PDF.
Create Free Account to Use Label Creator →Use SellFood's free Label Creator to build compliant American Samoa labels in minutes — with the home kitchen disclaimer, allergen disclosures, and all required fields pre-formatted for the territory's guidelines.