🏷️ Label Requirements · Page 6 of 8
Label Requirements in Indiana
Indiana's HBV labeling rules are specific and non-negotiable. Six required fields, an exact disclaimer statement, and a 10-point type minimum. Here's everything your label must include — with the exact wording from the statute.
The Legal Standard
What Indiana Requires on Every Label
Under Indiana Code IC 16-42-5.3, every product sold by a Home-Based Vendor must be individually labeled with six required fields plus the Indiana HBV disclaimer statement. There is no pre-approval process — you create the labels, you ensure they comply. Labels must appear on each product; for online sales, label information must also be posted on your product listing page.
1
Producer's Full Name & Home Address Required
Your legal name and the full address of your primary residence where the food was produced. This includes street address, city, state, and ZIP code. A PO Box alone does not satisfy this requirement — a physical home address is required. This field allows customers (and regulators) to contact you if needed.
2
Product Common Name Required
The standard, recognizable name of your product — "Chocolate Chip Cookies," "Strawberry Jam," "Mixed Nut Granola." Avoid obscure or trademarked-sounding names that don't describe the product. The name should allow the buyer to clearly identify what they are purchasing.
3
Ingredients List (Descending by Weight) Required
List all ingredients in descending order by weight — the heaviest ingredient first, lightest last. Sub-ingredients within a compound ingredient (e.g., chocolate chips that contain cocoa butter, sugar, lecithin) should be listed in parentheses after the parent ingredient. Use common names; "sugar" not "sucrose," "flour" not "wheat flour" (though noting wheat origin aids allergen compliance). Every ingredient must be listed — no exceptions.
4
Net Weight or Volume Required
State the net quantity of contents — the weight or volume of the food only, not the packaging. Express in US customary units (oz, lb, fl oz) and optionally metric units. For solid foods, use weight (oz or lb). For liquid or semi-liquid foods, use volume (fl oz). For items sold by count (e.g., "12 cookies"), you may state the count. Placement is typically in the lower third of the principal display panel.
5
Date the Food Was Processed Required
The date on which the food was made, baked, or processed. A specific date (e.g., "Made: April 7, 2026") satisfies this requirement. This is not the same as a "best by" or "sell by" date, though you may include those voluntarily. The processing date informs customers of freshness and helps trace any potential issues. It changes with every production batch.
6
Indiana HBV Disclaimer Statement Required · 10pt Minimum
The exact statement required by IC 16-42-5.3, printed in at least 10-point type. See the disclaimer section below for the exact wording. This statement must appear on every product label and must be legible. It cannot be paraphrased, shortened, or hidden.
+
Allergen Labeling Encouraged
Indiana law does not explicitly mandate allergen labeling for HBVs, but it is strongly encouraged and considered a best practice. Identifying the nine major allergens (milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame) protects your customers and your business. See the allergen section below for format guidance.
Hoosier Honey Oat Cookies
Made in Indiana's finest home kitchen
INGREDIENTS: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), rolled oats, unsalted butter (milk), honey, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.
NET WT: 8 oz (226g) · 12 cookies
MADE ON: April 7, 2026
PRODUCED BY: Jane Smith
123 Maple Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
CONTAINS: Wheat, Milk, Eggs
⚠️ Required Indiana Statement
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
Sample label for illustration only · Not a real product
Exact Required Wording — IC 16-42-5.3
The Indiana HBV Disclaimer Statement
Every Indiana Home-Based Vendor product label must include this exact statement in at least 10-point type. It cannot be paraphrased, abbreviated, or modified. It must appear on the label of every individual product — not just the outer packaging. For online sales, it must also be visible on your product listing page.
"This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE."
Key requirements for this statement:
· Must be printed in at least 10-point type (approximately 13.3px on screen; about 3.5mm tall in print)
· Must use the exact wording — no substitutions (e.g., "State Department of Health" instead of "Indiana Department of Health" is not compliant)
· Must appear on every labeled product — not just the case or outer box
· "NOT FOR RESALE" should appear as shown — typically in uppercase for emphasis
· For products where individual labeling isn't practical (e.g., eggs), a placard displaying this information at the point of sale may be used instead
Indiana's HBV statute does not explicitly require allergen labeling for home-based vendors, but the Brown County HBV Guidance Document and Purdue Extension both strongly encourage it. Food allergies can be life-threatening — mislabeled or unlabeled allergens expose your customers to serious risk and expose you to significant legal liability. Including allergen information on your label is simply good practice.
The nine major food allergens recognized by federal law (updated by the FASTER Act to add sesame in 2023) are:
🥛
Milk
butter, cream, cheese
🥚
Eggs
whole eggs, egg whites
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Wheat
flour, bread crumbs
🥜
Peanuts
peanut butter, peanut oil
🫘
Soybeans
soy lecithin, tofu
🌰
Tree Nuts
almonds, pecans, walnuts
🦐
Shellfish
shrimp, crab, lobster
🫙
Sesame
sesame seeds, tahini
Measurement Rules
Net Weight & Volume Requirements
Indiana requires the net weight or volume of the food product — meaning the weight of the food itself, not the container or packaging. Use standard US customary units. Metric units may be added but are not required. The net quantity statement is typically placed in the lower third of the principal display panel (the main front face of the label) in a type size proportional to the label area.
For items sold by count (a dozen cookies, a bag of 6 rolls), you may declare by count rather than weight — but many sellers include both: "12 cookies · Net Wt. 8 oz (226g)". When in doubt, include weight as it is the most universally clear declaration.
Cookies (dozen)
Net Wt. 8 oz (226g)
Or: "12 cookies · 8 oz"
Jar of Jam
Net Wt. 8 oz (227g)
Weight only — not volume for jams
Granola Bag
Net Wt. 12 oz (340g)
Weigh after packaging, exclude bag
Loaf of Bread
Net Wt. 1 lb 2 oz (510g)
Weigh cooled loaf without wrap
Spice Blend
Net Wt. 2 oz (56g)
Small net wt. fine — be precise
Honey
Net Wt. 12 oz (340g)
Honey sold by weight, not volume
🌐
Online Sales: Your Label Must Also Appear on Your Listing
Indiana's 2022 HBV reform added a digital labeling requirement: when you sell products online — through your own website, a marketplace, or social media — the complete product label information must also be posted on the webpage or market listing where the product is sold.
This means a customer buying your cookies online should be able to see, before purchase: your name and address, the product name, the full ingredient list, the net weight, the production date (or batch date), and the Indiana disclaimer statement. You don't need to display an image of the physical label — text on the listing page satisfies the requirement.
Practical implementation: Add a "Product Details" or "Label Information" section to each product listing. Include all six required label fields as text on that page. Many sellers paste the disclaimer verbatim into a dedicated "Important Notice" box. SellFood's product listing template includes a field for the Indiana disclaimer text — pre-filled automatically when you select Indiana as your state.
Typography Requirements
Font Size: The 10-Point Rule
Indiana law specifies that the disclaimer statement must appear in at least 10-point type. This is the only explicit font size minimum in the HBV labeling statute — all other label fields should be legible but have no stated minimum. In print, 10-point type equals approximately 3.5mm in cap height. On screen, 10pt is roughly 13.3 CSS pixels at standard screen resolution.
✅ Compliant — 10pt type (13.3px)
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
✓ Meets Indiana's 10-point minimum
❌ Too Small — below 10pt
This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE.
✗ Below Indiana's minimum — not compliant
Avoid These Errors
Common Labeling Mistakes
These are the most frequent labeling errors Indiana home food sellers make. Each one puts you out of compliance with IC 16-42-5.3.
The most common error — leaving off the HBV disclaimer statement entirely, or including it only on the outer box but not individual product labels.
Include the exact required statement on every individual product label in at least 10-point type.
⚠️
Paraphrasing the Disclaimer
Writing "not inspected by the Health Dept" or "home kitchen product" instead of the exact required wording is non-compliant.
Copy the disclaimer word-for-word from IC 16-42-5.3. No paraphrasing, no shortcuts.
Printing the disclaimer in 6pt or 8pt type to save space on a small label. Below 10-point is a clear statutory violation.
Design your label layout to accommodate the disclaimer at 10pt minimum. Consider a larger label if needed.
Leaving off the production date or only including a "best by" date. Indiana specifically requires the date the food was made or processed.
Add "Made on: [date]" or "Processed: [date]" to every label. Update with each new batch.
⚠️
PO Box Only for Address
Indiana requires your home address — the physical location where food was produced. A PO Box is not sufficient on its own.
List your full street address, city, state, and ZIP. If privacy is a concern, consider forming an LLC with a registered agent address.
⚠️
Ingredients Not in Order
Listing ingredients alphabetically or by preference rather than in descending order by weight — a federal standard also expected under Indiana's framework.
Weigh each ingredient before use or calculate proportions from your recipe to ensure correct descending order by weight.
⚠️
No Online Label Posting
Selling online without posting the label information on the product listing page — required since the 2022 HBV reform.
Add all six required label fields as text on every online product listing, including the Indiana disclaimer statement.
⚠️
Missing Sub-Ingredients
Listing "chocolate chips" without disclosing sub-ingredients (sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, milk) that contain allergens.
List compound ingredients with their components in parentheses: "chocolate chips (sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, milk)."
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No Pre-Approval — You Are Responsible
Indiana does not review or approve HBV product labels before sale. You are solely responsible for ensuring every label meets the requirements of IC 16-42-5.3. If a county health department investigates a complaint and finds your labels are non-compliant, you may be required to relabel products or cease sales until corrected. Getting the label right from the start is far easier than fixing it later.