Facts Up Front

Style Guide

Developed by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) as a voluntary
industry initiative to communicate key nutrition information to consumers on the front of food packages", the Facts up
Front front-of-pack nutrition labeling system (also referred to as Nutrition Keys) willat timesneed to be implemented
by Smyth GID employees.

The Facts up Front system is intended to be educational in purpose, assisting consumers in identifying and understanding
key nutrient information. The goal of the system is to facilitate consumers in making informed food choices.

Fig 1. Facts Up Front panel example.

Facts up Front is a voluntary front-of-package nutrition labeling program, but companies choosing to implement the
labeling should apply the system to all eligible products.Although front-of-pack labeling is voluntary, companies choosing
to apply the system should follow a set of de ned elements and conditions, set forth by the GMA and FMI in the Guide for
Implementers, dated February 7, 2014.
Details of the Facts up Front nutrition labeling system, along with the implementation of the program by Smyth GID
employees, are outlined in this style guide.

General Iconography
Facts Up Front consists of a set of rounded, rectangular plaques, icons, or bugs. The icon shape is used in similar front-ofpack labeling for nutrition information, including on foods, beverages, and some supplements.
Each icon represents quantitative information on the calories and speci c nutrients contained in the labeled food.
Nutrients that have an established Daily Value will also display the percent Daily Value (%DV) per serving in a de ned semicircle space at the bottom of the icon.
Information contained in the icons must be identical to the information declared in the Nutrition Fact Panel (NFP) for that
packaged item. Food packages bearing the front-of-pack icons must also bear nutrition labeling per existing FDA and
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.

Placement
The Facts Up Front icons are placed on the front-of-pack, which is identi ed as the principal display panel (PDP) of the food
label.

The principal display panel is de ned in regulations at 21 CFR 101.1 (FDA-regulated foods), 9 CFR 317.2(d) (meat), and
9 CFR 381.116(b) (poultry).

For labels containing both a PDP and alternate display panel, the Facts Up Front icons should be placed on the PDP. It is not
required for the Facts Up Front icons to be placed on alternate display panels.
Placement should ensure that consumers can view the Facts Up Front icons under normal conditions of display for that
label. In the majority of cases, Smyth will not be tasked with the placement of Facts Up Front icons, and will need only to
verify they can be easily viewed.

Formats
Horizontal
The horizontal layout of the Facts Up Front icons is the preferred presentation.

Fig 2. Horizontal layout.

Vertical
A vertical format may be used when: 1) the horizontal format would interfere with mandatory labeling information, or 2)
branding, shrink, or package shape would render the horizontal format illegible.

Fig 3. Recommendation orientation of

vertical layout.

The alternate vertical format may be used when both horizontal and vertical space on the label is limited for the
presentation of the Facts Up Front icons.

Fig 4. Alternate orientation of vertical

layout.

Sizing & Typography

Icon Sizing
The Facts Up Front icons should be noticeable and the information within the icons must be legible to the consumer under
normal conditions in which they are normally viewed on the shelf.
Icons are scaled to varying sizes of label PDPs; larger PDPs bear larger icons. The scale for the icons and related typography
follow the same area of PDP used to determine size of the net contents declaration. This will typically be outside of Smyth's
area of responsibility.

The minimum size of the number of calories in the Calories icon is at least the minimum size required for the net contents
declaration. In the below examples, the amount of calories represented on the top line of that icon is 100% of the minimum
required height of the net contents declaration. The quantities of other nutrients are 60% of the minimum required height
of the net contents declaration.

Area of PDP (in square inches)

Size of number of Calories

Size of other nutrient quantities

.0625 inch (4.5pt font)

.0375 inch (2.7pt font)

> 5 but 25

.125 inch (9pt font)

.075 inch (5.4pt font)

> 25 but 100

.1875 inch (13.5pt font)

.1125 inch (8.1pt font)

> 100 but 400

.25 inch (18pt font)

.15 inch (10.8pt font)

> 400

.5 inch (36pt font)

.3 inch (21.6pt font)

Fonts
The speci c type font used in this style guide, and across the majority of Facts Up Front icons submitted to Smyth GID, is
Berthold Akzsidenz Grotesk BE Bold Condensed. It isat timesscaled horizontally to 80%, though that decision is left to
the individual GID employee.
If this font is not available for use, Gotham Bold Condensed is the alternative sans serif font that should be used.

Fig 5. One-sheet for the Berthold Akzidenz

Grotesk BE Bold Condensed font.

Fig 6. One-sheet for the Gotham Bold

Condensed font.

Color & Graphic Distinction

Color & Contrast
Facts Up Front icons should use a single solid color background with a single solid color type that contrasts strongly with
the background. The background of the Daily Value spaces must contrast strongly with the body color of the icons.

Fig 7. Contrast example with black type.

Fig 8. Contrast example with color type.

There must be no hue, tone, or tint differentiation used between icons and icon color should not interfere with icon
legibility.

Graphic Distinction
The Facts Up Front icons should be graphically distinct from other label elements presented on the PDP, especially other
nutrition-related statements (to include content claims, health claims, structure-function claims, and dietary guidance
statements).
Additional nutrition information should not be placed so that it appears to be part of the Facts Up Front typography.
The rounded, rectangular shape of the Facts Up Front icons should not be used for other nutrition information on the PDP.
Graphic distinctiveness can be created through a number of design techniques, including color or contrast differences, and
spacial separation.

Icons
Basic Icons
The Basic icons are a standard set of four icons presented together. They represent Calories, Saturated Fat, Sodium, and
Sugars, in that order. This is consistent with the order of presentation of these elements on the NFP.

Fig 9. Four basic icons of Facts Up Front.

Values declared on the Facts Up Front icons must be identical to those displayed in the NFP, including observance of the
units of measure and rounding rules described in the FDA and USDA regulations.
In the horizontal format, the Basic icons are displayed in order left-to-right. In the vertical format, the Basic icons are
displayed in order top-to-bottom.
A small space is inserted between each Basic icon, typically between 0.4" and 0.625" for Smyth GID.
The Sugars icon represents total sugars content and the use of the term "Added Sugars" is not permitted.

"Saturated Fat" should be abbreviated as "Sat Fat", in all displays of the Basic icons. No other abbreviations may be used in
the Basic icons.

Optional Icons
Up to two (2) Optional icons may be displayed in the Facts Up Front, and only when the Basic icons are also used.

Fig 10. Two optional icons of Facts Up Front.

The Optional icons represent speci c additional nutrients either required or permitted to be declared in nutrition labeling.
Optional icons may represent: Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, or Potassium.
No other nutrients or food information may be displayed in the Optional icons.
When two Optional icons are used, they must be presented in the order listed above, which is consistent with the order of
declaration for these nutrients in the NFP.
Optional icons are separate from the group of Basic icons by a space that is at least three (3) times the space between
individual icons,typically between 0.12" and 0.1875" for Smyth GID.
To be included in an Optional icon, the nutrient must provide at least 10% Daily Value per serving in the NFP, and must meet
the criteria to express a "good source" claim or better.
The word "Vitamin"maybe abbreviated as "Vit" in any of the relevant Optional icons. "Dietary Fiber" in an Optional icon
may be abbreviated "Fiber".

Optional Icon

Included in the icon

Fiber

Quantity (g), nutrient name, and %DV

Protein

Quantity (g), nutrient name, and %DV

Vitamin A

Nutrient name and %DV

Vitamin C

Nutrient name and %DV

Vitamin D

Nutrient name and %DV

Calcium

Nutrient name and %DV

Iron

Nutrient name and %DV

Potassium

Quantity (mg), nutrient name and %DV

Accompanying Statement
A statement providing the information on the speci c serving size on which the Facts Up Front are based is required for all
presentations of the icons.

Fig 11. Serving size statement.

The preferred placement of the accompanying statement is above the Facts Up Front icons, aligned to the left.

Examples of Accompanying Statements

Per 1/2 cup serving
Each packet
Per pack
Per bottle
Per 1 cup
Each 2 Tbsp serving
Per 1 oz.

Special Cases
Calories-Only Icon
On labels that meet criteria for a small package, a company may elect to present a single icon, for calories, on the PDP.

Fig 12. Calorie-only icon for small packages.

Small packages are those on which the Basic icons would not t on the PDP, and are de ned as having a PDP of 13 square
inches or less.
No Basic or Optional icons may be presented on the PDP of a food label that uses the Calories-only Facts Up Front icon.

Beverages
The Facts Up Front program recognizes the "Clear on Calories" front-of-pack labeling initiative used by the American
Beverage Association (ABA) since 2010. Implements of the Facts Up Front program may choose to apply either the
"Calories-Only" icon or the four (4) Basic icons.

Ready-to-drink sports drinks, bottled water and water beverages, soft drinks and diet soda drinks, and teas:
In packages 20 uid ounces or less, front-of-pack icons are based on the full container.
In packages greater than 20 uid ounces, front-of-pack icons are based on 12 uid ounces.

Ready-to-drink juices and juice drinks:

In packages 20 uid ounces or less, front-of-pack icons are based on the full container.
In packages greater than 20 uid ounces, front-of-pack icons are based on 8 uid ounces.

All other beverages (including milk, milk drinks, coffee beverages, powdered beverages, and concentrated beverages:
Follow the Facts Up Front general rules.

Dual Column NFP Labels

Facts Up Front do not present information on alternate permitted presentations of serving information (e.g., voluntary
whole package nutrition labeling, per 100 grams, per slice, etc).

Dietary Supplements
Facts Up Front icons are not appropriate for use on dietary supplement labels.

Variety Packs
Variety packs should present, on the outer wrapper or package, only Facts up Front Calories-only icons for each of the
different foods enclosed within the variety pack.

Bilingual Icons
Bilingual presentation of the Facts Up Front icons is an option, at the manufacturer or distributor's election. The words
within and outside the icons may be presented in two languages.

Fig 13. Bilingual example for Basic and

Optional icons.

Exemptions

A label that is exempt from nutrition labeling should not use the Facts Up Front icons, unless the manufacturer applies
nutrition labeling on a voluntary basis.

Packages and foods that are exempt from nutrition labeling, as speci ed in the FDA and USDA regulations, include:
Very small packages (<12 square inches in total space available)
Foods made by very small businesses
Foods that contain no nutrients at declarable levels (e.g., bottled water, spices)
Medical foods
Foods not sold to consumers (e.g., free samples)

Foods that bear the NFP on the PDP are also exempt from Facts Up Front icons.

Sources
Used in this style guide is information provided by the GMA, FMI, FDA, and USDA. Additional information can be found below:
Facts Up Front Website: http://www.factsupfront.org/
GMA Facts Up Front Information: http://www.gmaonline.org/issues-policy/health-nutrition/facts-up-front-front-of-pack-labelinginitiative/
GMA Nutrition Keys Guidelines: http://www.gmaonline.org/ le-manager/Health_Nutrition/nutritionkeys-dietaryguidelines.pdf
FMI Website: http://www.fmi.org/
FDA Facts Up Front Labeling Initiative: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm202726.htm