Date Last Updated: 8/26/2024
Why Should You Care About Labels?
Labels are crucial for running a home bakery. If your baked goods are not correctly labeled, you could expose your business to unintentional harm to others, potential lawsuits, and fines. Labels are essential and should be well thought out; every label is part of what you and your business stand for. You should care about labels because your negligence in correctly documenting your labels could hurt someone. Life-threatening allergies or other restrictive eating conditions are common. Being proactive and ensuring your products are correctly labeled are your responsibility.
What Do I Need to Include on my Labels?
Knowing what to put on your labels is the first step to making a great label. I heartily recommend that you look at your state’s laws that dictate what you are required to put on your labels. For the State of West Virginia, the Department of Agriculture dictates what items are required on WV Cottage Good Labels. If you want a general idea, you can check out https://cottagefoodlaws.com/, where you can see a breakdown of what your state allows.
For the State of West Virginia, every food label you make shall include these items:
- Statement of Identity
- This is the product’s common name. If an item is a cookie, it must be labeled as such in the Statement of Identity. See the example above; my label is for an “Andes Mint Cookie,” which shows the product’s common name, “cookie.”
- All Included Ingredients
- When you bake something, your label must include ALL ingredients, going from the heaviest to the lightest. See the example above; while I don’t have to list that I used 2 cups of flour, it is the heaviest ingredient in this recipe, followed by the Andes Mints at 1.25 cups. But if you notice in the example, I must list all of the ingredients used in the Andes Mints. This is very important for you to understand. Any ingredient Andes Mints included in their ingredient list now needs to be included in my ingredients list, as they are now part of the item I baked.
- Listing Potential Allergens
- You must inform your customers of potential allergens in your baked goods. Similar to the example above with the ingredients, if I use Andes Mints in my product, I now have to list any allergens they have listed in the allergens section of their label and any allergens I add while making the cookie. The listed allergens not only protect the consumer from potentially hazardous foods but can also assist in legal issues if the allergens in the product are visible on the label and the customer attempts legal recourse for consuming your food after having an allergic reaction.
- Producer Information
- You must include “Producer Information,” which includes your name, address, and phone number. This allows the customer to contact you if there is a problem with your product or if the Health Department receives a complaint about your food making someone sick.
- Net Weight and Quantity
- The net weight of the item and the number of items in the package are required.
- Required Statements
- This requirement will vary from state to state, but in West Virginia, I must include the following statement on every cookie label: “This product was made in a non-commercial kitchen that may not be subject to inspection and may contain cross-contact allergens not included in the allergen statement.”
What Labels do I Use and Why?
For BAKr, I love using these 4×6 Fanfold Direct Thermal Labels (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases). They are my absolute favorite! Typically, a pack of 500 costs around $10, making each just $0.02. By printing these landscape, I can fit two of my cookie labels on each 4×6 label, effectively giving me 1,000 labels for the same price, lowering the cost to $0.01 each. After printing, I use a paper trimmer to cut the sheet into two pieces. When I’m ready to attach one to a cookie, I fold it at the fold line in the image below, leaving a small sticky area exposed at the top to adhere to the packaging.
What Do I Use to Print My Labels?
I use my Rollo USB Thermal Printer to print all the labels I use for my cookies. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) While this printer has a relatively small footprint, I can make it churn out 500 4×6 labels in under 10 minutes, which is incredible. The best part is that it doesn’t use ink – just heat – hence why it is a thermal printer. There is an internal heated mechanism that pretty much burns the label into existence using special thermal labels or stickers that react to heat. It has been reliable, efficient, and easy to troubleshoot. It should last for up to 650,000 labels, and once it finally croaks, I will 100% be buying another one.
Other Uses for Thermal Labels?
Another way I like to promote my cookies and thank my customers at the same time is by using these Spartan 2” Thermal Round labels on the back of every other cookie. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Similar to the 4×6 labels from earlier, you receive five rolls, each containing 750 labels, for around $25. This means you get 3,750 labels, bringing the cost per label down to 2/3rds of a penny. However, since I use one of these labels on every other cookie, the overall cost is lowered to 1/3rd of a penny. By including this label pictured above on my cookies, the customer can order more cookies if they like them.
Disclaimer
The information presented on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content reflects the personal opinions and experiences of Renee Brooks, Owner of BAKr, and is intended solely to broaden the reader’s understanding of the topics discussed. It should not be construed as professional advice or a definitive guide. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research or consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions based on the content provided. BAKr and Renee Brooks disclaim any liability for any damages or losses resulting from the use or reliance on the information contained on this website.