Your label is your contract with the customer. Arkansas requires specific disclosures on every homemade product — here's exactly what needs to appear, where it goes, and how to get it right.
The Food Freedom Act (Ark. Code § 20-57-505) requires the following information to be disclosed to the "informed end consumer." This can appear on the product label, on a placard at point of sale, on the website if sold online, or in a separate written document for bulk sales. Every element is mandatory — missing any one can result in your product being classified as misbranded.
The date your product was manufactured, produced, or processed. Use a clear, unambiguous format.
Your full name, physical address, and telephone number. This allows traceback in case of a food safety concern. If you prefer not to share your personal information, you may instead use a state-issued identification number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
The common or usual name of the food — what a consumer would reasonably expect the product to be called.
All ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance by weight. This means the ingredient you use the most (by weight) goes first, and the ingredient used least goes last. Sub-ingredients of compound ingredients should be listed in parentheses.
Every product must include the following statement — this is the exact wording specified by the Food Freedom Act:
If you sell pickles, hot sauce, salsa, fermented beverages, or any acidified food product, each container must also include a unique batch number. This number links back to your production records and enables traceback in the event of a safety concern.
Here's what a complete, compliant Arkansas label looks like in practice. Use this as a template for your own products:
Privacy option: If you don't want your home address and phone number on every package, you can request an identification number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and use that instead. The label would then read something like: "Producer ID: AR-12345 (Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture)" — replacing the personal address and phone number.
While the Food Freedom Act's required disclaimer already warns that "this product may contain allergens," responsible labeling goes further. The federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) identifies major food allergens that must be declared on labels. Even though the Food Freedom Act doesn't explicitly require a separate "Contains" statement, including one is strongly recommended — and may be required under federal law if you sell interstate.
The nine major allergens recognized by the FDA are:
You can declare allergens in two ways: by including the common allergen name in the ingredients list itself (e.g., "wheat flour" rather than just "flour"), or by adding a separate "Contains:" line after the ingredients list that clearly identifies all allergens present. The separate "Contains:" line is the clearest approach and is strongly recommended.
Cross-contamination: If your home kitchen handles multiple allergens — for example, you make both peanut butter cookies and peanut-free products on the same surfaces — consider adding a "May contain traces of:" advisory. While not legally required under Arkansas law, it protects your customers and reduces your liability risk. Allergen-related claims are one of the most common sources of food business lawsuits.
The Food Freedom Act allows disclosure information to be communicated through different methods depending on how and where you sell. Here's what's required for each channel:
| Sales Channel | Label Placement |
|---|---|
| Pre-packaged products (individual sale) | All required information on the product label or container |
| Online sales (website, social media) | All required information on the webpage where the product is listed AND on the physical package when delivered |
| Bulk container sales (farmers market, etc.) | Placard at the point of sale AND a separate written disclosure document provided to the customer at time of purchase |
| Retail / grocery store (third-party vendor) | All required information on the product label — the store's customer is the "informed end consumer" and must be able to read the label |
| Pop-up shop | Product label and/or placard. You or your employee must be present at the point of sale. |
The Food Freedom Act's disclosure requirements (§ 20-57-505) do not explicitly require net weight or volume on the label. However, if you sell interstate or through retail stores, federal labeling standards under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) require a net quantity of contents statement. Including the net weight (e.g., "Net Wt. 8 oz / 227g") on every product is strongly recommended — it's expected by consumers, helpful for pricing, and necessary if you ever scale beyond in-state direct sales.
Arkansas does not specify a minimum font size for Food Freedom Act labels. As a practical matter, all text should be clearly legible — a minimum of 6-point type is a good baseline for ingredient lists, with larger text for the product name and disclaimer. The disclaimer statement is your most important legal disclosure, so make sure it's prominently displayed and easy to read.
A well-designed label does more than meet the legal minimum — it builds trust and sells your product. Consider using waterproof labels if your product may encounter moisture. Print on adhesive label stock rather than writing by hand. Keep your branding consistent across all products. Place the disclaimer in a visible location — don't hide it in tiny text on the bottom of the package. Customers appreciate transparency, and a professional-looking label with clear information signals quality.
No pre-approval needed: Arkansas does not require you to submit your labels to any agency for review or approval before selling. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with § 20-57-505 on your own. If you're unsure whether your label meets requirements, the University of Arkansas Extension and your local ADH health unit can provide guidance.
Create compliant Arkansas food labels with the required disclaimer pre-filled. Customize with your product info, ingredients, and branding.
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