Last verified 16 Sep 2026 · Sources
| Quick facts | %DV footnote text |
|---|---|
| Regulation | 21 CFR 101.9(d)(9) |
| Applies to | Any packaged food carrying a standard or tabular Nutrition Facts panel |
| Key numbers | Footnote text is fixed by regulation; 2,000 calories (or 1,000 for children 1-3); omittable under 40 sq in (j)(13)(ii) |
The direct answer
FDA sets the exact wording for the %DV footnote in 21 CFR 101.9(d)(9): “*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.” It sits directly under the nutrient table, marked with the same asterisk as the “% Daily Value” column heading. Foods for children 1 to 3 years old substitute “1,000 calories” for “2,000 calories.” Packages with 40 square inches or less of labeling space can shorten it to “% DV = % Daily Value” or, in narrower cases, drop it entirely.
The rule
21 CFR 101.9(d)(9) fixes this sentence as regulatory text, not suggested copy, confirmed against the current section on eCFR (ecfr.gov):
“*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”
This is the footnote that came with FDA’s 2016 overhaul of the Nutrition Facts label. It is shorter and more consumer-tested than the version it replaced, which spelled out separate Daily Value columns for a 2,000- and a 2,500-calorie diet. That longer table-style footnote isn’t the default anymore for the standard vertical format; the single sentence above is.
The asterisk matters as much as the sentence: it has to be the same mark used next to “% Daily Value” at the top of the nutrient table, so a reader can trace the reference straight down.
Two carve-outs change the footnote’s wording or presence:
- Children 1–3 format (see /formats/children-1-3/): “1,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice” replaces “2,000 calories,” because the reference calorie level FDA sets for that age group is lower.
- Small packages, 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(i): packages that qualify for either the tabular format under (j)(13)(ii)(A)(1) or the linear format under (j)(13)(ii)(A)(2) do not require the footnote at all. FDA’s text says these formats “do not require the information in paragraphs (d)(9) and (f)(5) related to the footnote.” Both of those small-package formats may instead use the abbreviated statement “% DV = % Daily Value” if you prefer to keep some version of it.
The numbers
| Situation | Footnote |
|---|---|
| Standard vertical, most products | Full sentence, “2,000 calories a day” |
| Children 1–3 format | Full sentence, “1,000 calories a day” |
| Tabular or linear small-package format, (j)(13)(ii)(A)(1)/(A)(2) | Footnote not required; may be omitted entirely, or shortened to “% DV = % Daily Value” |
| Package under 12 sq in, no nutrition claims | Panel itself may be exempt under (j)(13)(i); footnote question moot |
On the label
If you sell juice (see /product-labels/juice/) in a standard bottle with a full-size vertical panel, your label prints the complete sentence, unshortened, right under the nutrient bar, with no abbreviation available because there’s no space constraint forcing the tabular format.
If you pack hot sauce (see /product-labels/hot-sauce/) in a small bottle with limited label real estate, your product may qualify for the tabular display under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii) if its available labeling area is 40 square inches or less. In that case the footnote can shrink to “% DV = % Daily Value” instead of the full sentence, freeing up space the small panel doesn’t have to spare, while keeping the required reference to what %DV means.
Mistakes we see
- Copying the old 2,000/2,500-calorie table onto a new-format label instead of the current single-sentence footnote.
- Changing the wording (paraphrasing “contributes to a daily diet” or dropping “general nutrition advice”) when the text is fixed by regulation, not a style choice.
- Using the abbreviated “% DV = % Daily Value” footnote on a package that doesn’t qualify for the small-package tabular exception, because the label happened to be small but wasn’t run through the actual surface-area test.
- Leaving “2,000 calories” on a children 1–3 label that should read “1,000 calories.”
- Mismatched asterisks: a footnote marked with a dagger or number instead of the same asterisk used at the %DV column heading.
Related rules
This footnote is the explanatory line for the whole %DV system covered in /labeling-rules/percent-daily-value/, and its placement and minimum type size are governed by the same paragraph structure as /labeling-rules/type-size-and-placement/. If you’re deciding whether your product even qualifies for a shortened footnote, start with /labeling-rules/small-business-exemption/ and the surface-area thresholds, since package size drives format eligibility across several rules at once.
Build it right
Our builder inserts the correct footnote text automatically for the format your product qualifies for: the full sentence for a standard panel, the age-appropriate calorie figure for children’s formats, and the abbreviated version when your package’s surface area qualifies for it.
The right footnote, word for word, is one less line for a printer proof or a buyer’s compliance check to send back. Enter your recipe, then see your label: its shape and calorie count, the claims you qualify for and your allergen line are free, no card required, and every other value and %DV stays hidden until you unlock it. $29 unlocks every other nutrient value and %DV, every FDA format your product qualifies for, and your ingredient statement and allergen declaration, ready to print. Build your label or read how percent daily value is calculated.
FAQ
What is the exact footnote text FDA requires?
"The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice." (21 CFR 101.9(d)(9)), preceded by an asterisk that matches the one next to the "% Daily Value" column heading.
Can I shorten the footnote on a small package?
Yes, in some cases. Under 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii), packages with 40 square inches or less of available labeling space using a tabular display may use the abbreviated statement \"% DV = % Daily Value\" or omit the footnote where the rule allows.
Does the footnote change for children's food?
Yes. Labels for foods intended for children 1 to 3 years old use "1,000 calories a day" in place of "2,000 calories a day," reflecting the lower reference calorie level for that age group.
Do I still need the old table with 2,000 and 2,500 calorie columns?
No. That longer footnote table was the pre-2016 format. The current standard-format footnote is the single short sentence; the older calorie-column table is no longer the default for new labels.
Where does the footnote go on the label?
Directly below the nutrient bar/table, under the same asterisk used at the top of the %DV column, per 21 CFR 101.9(d)(9).
Related rules
Percent Daily Value (%DV), Type size and placement, Mandatory vitamins/minerals. See the full all labeling rules.