How is it different from the US Nutrition Facts panel?

Three big differences: values are per 100 g/mL (not per serving), 'salt' is listed rather than 'sodium' (1 g salt ≈ 400 mg sodium), and 'added sugars' is not a separate mandatory line in the EU (though several member states are pushing for it). Energy always appears in both kJ and kcal.

Is the per-100 g basis better than per-serving?

It makes comparison between products straightforward and removes the incentive to game serving size. Its weakness is that it disconnects the label from what people actually eat. Most manufacturers provide both.

The Food Information to Consumers regulation — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — harmonised EU food-labelling rules from December 2014, with mandatory nutrition declaration from December 2016. It also sets standardised allergen highlighting, minimum type size, and country-of-origin rules for certain products.

Does the EU require added-sugar declaration?

No, not at present. FIC mandates 'sugars' (total). France, the Netherlands, and Germany have proposed adding an 'of which added sugars' subline; discussions have been ongoing since the 2020 Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The 2023 Commission proposal to revise FIC has been delayed multiple times.

Are vitamins and minerals mandatory?

Only when a nutrient claim is made ('source of vitamin C', 'high in iron') or when the food is fortified. Otherwise vitamin/mineral declaration is voluntary and must be at least 15% of the reference intake per 100 g (or per portion for beverages).

The EU nutrition declaration

The EU nutrition declaration is the standardised on-pack nutrient panel required by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers (FIC). It lists energy (in kJ and kcal), fat and of which saturates, carbohydrate and of which sugars, protein, and salt — always per 100 g or 100 mL, with per-portion values optional. Mandatory since December 2016 for most prepackaged food.

An EU nutrition declaration on the back of a packaged food.

What the EU nutrition declaration is

The EU nutrition declaration is the mandatory nutrient panel on packaged food sold in the European Union under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers ("FIC"). It has applied to almost all prepackaged food since 13 December 2016. The regulation also governs allergen highlighting, minimum type size, country-of-origin marking for certain products, and the rules for voluntary front-of-pack schemes such as Nutri-Score.

What must appear

Nutrient	Unit	Notes
Energy	kJ and kcal	Both required
Fat	g	Total plus "of which saturates"
Carbohydrate	g	Total plus "of which sugars"
Protein	g
Salt	g	Not sodium — 1 g salt ≈ 400 mg sodium

Optional additions include mono- and polyunsaturated fat, polyols, starch, fibre, and any vitamin or mineral listed in Annex XIII of the regulation.

Presentation rules

Per 100 g or 100 mL — always. Per-portion values are optional and shown in addition, not instead.
Minimum type size: x-height of at least 1.2 mm (0.9 mm on very small packages), to prevent unreadable microprint.
Allergen highlighting: the 14 declared allergens (see allergen labelling) must be emphasised in the ingredient list — bold, italic, colour, or underline.
Country of origin: required for fresh meat of pig, sheep, goat, and poultry; for the primary ingredient when the front of pack implies a different origin.

Front-of-pack complements

FIC allows voluntary front-of-pack schemes provided they are underpinned by sound scientific evidence, comprehensible to average consumers, and non-misleading. The most widely deployed is the French Nutri-Score, adopted voluntarily by manufacturers in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. See front-of-pack labels for the wider landscape and NOVA vs Nutri-Score for how the two frameworks agree and diverge.

The pending FIC revision

The Farm-to-Fork Strategy (2020) proposed a harmonised, mandatory EU front-of-pack scheme, a mandatory added-sugar declaration, and origin extensions. The Commission's draft revision has been repeatedly delayed since 2022. Until it lands, the 2011 FIC framework remains current.

Frequently asked questions

How is it different from the US Nutrition Facts panel?: Three big differences: values are per 100 g/mL (not per serving), 'salt' is listed rather than 'sodium' (1 g salt ≈ 400 mg sodium), and 'added sugars' is not a separate mandatory line in the EU (though several member states are pushing for it). Energy always appears in both kJ and kcal.
Is the per-100 g basis better than per-serving?: It makes comparison between products straightforward and removes the incentive to game serving size. Its weakness is that it disconnects the label from what people actually eat. Most manufacturers provide both.
What is FIC?: The Food Information to Consumers regulation — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — harmonised EU food-labelling rules from December 2014, with mandatory nutrition declaration from December 2016. It also sets standardised allergen highlighting, minimum type size, and country-of-origin rules for certain products.
Does the EU require added-sugar declaration?: No, not at present. FIC mandates 'sugars' (total). France, the Netherlands, and Germany have proposed adding an 'of which added sugars' subline; discussions have been ongoing since the 2020 Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The 2023 Commission proposal to revise FIC has been delayed multiple times.
Are vitamins and minerals mandatory?: Only when a nutrient claim is made ('source of vitamin C', 'high in iron') or when the food is fortified. Otherwise vitamin/mineral declaration is voluntary and must be at least 15% of the reference intake per 100 g (or per portion for beverages).

Written by NakedCalorie editorial team.

Medically reviewed by Pending registered dietitian review — last reviewed July 15, 2026.

Educational information only, based on peer-reviewed literature and regulatory sources. Not medical advice.