Custom Bakery Labels Help Bakers Stand Out in a Crowd

Thanks to Cottage Food Laws, individuals are allowed to operate bakeries from their homes and sell products to others, and custom bakery labels are crucial to improving sales. Whether people want to hit farmers' markets, sell goods straight from their homes or head online to reach a national audience, custom bakery labels can help brands achieve the professional look they need to really catch the eye of prospective customers.

Farmers' markets are the perfect place for young bakeries to start looking for buyers. They allow bakers to get in-tune with the local community and interact with people face-to-face. Additionally, farmers' markets allow bakers to go straight to the source - they don't need to rely on marketing and advertising to get people to a local bakery shop.

However, given the growth of farmers' markets over the past two decades, the competition will be fierce. Even though people sell a variety of different food at these locations, bakers will still likely encounter others selling baked goods. This is why they'll need an appealing presentation, complete with ingredient information.

Labels for Baked Goods Have Specific Requirements

Crafting the perfect labels for baked goods isn't just about making a standout package - Cottage Food Laws also have specific requirements that will result in fines and other action if labels don't disclose particular points of information.

While these laws vary from state to state, some common label requirements, according to the California Department of Public Health, include:

• Special notification that baked goods were made in a home kitchen.
• The registration or permit number of cottage food operation.
• Ingredients used in the creation of the product in descending order of prominence by weight.
• Net quantity of the food product in English and metric units.
• A declaration of the use of any major food allergens, including but not limited to milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soybeans.
• The common or descriptive name of the product being sold.
• The name, city and ZIP code of where the baked good was produced.

Additionally, baked goods must also comply with requirements set forth by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. The FDA governs the usage of terms such as "fat-free" and "low sodium," so posting these words on a label improperly can result in significant fines.

Nutritional information doesn't always have to be included, but if a health claim is being made, nutrition information including calories, total fat, cholesterol, protein and other specifics must be present on the label.

Personalized Food Labels Can Help Differentiate Products

If bakers are producing a wide variety of baked goods, they may want to consider personalized food labels. This will help them note differences between different types of baked goods they are selling. For example, the label for chocolate chip muffins needs to be different than blueberry muffins - not only does this avoid confusion to customers, it also makes organization easier for the baker.

With the summer months quickly coming, farmers' markets will be booming. Bakers looking to get a foothold in the local market should consider selling their products, complete with customized bakery labels, at these events.

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