Last verified 16 Sep 2026 · Sources
A bilingual Nutrition Facts label prints the panel in English and a second language (almost always Spanish), either stacked in one panel or as two side-by-side panels, and it’s always allowed to add voluntarily (21 CFR 101.9(d)(14)). It becomes required, not just optional, the moment any other text on your label is in that second language (21 CFR 101.15(c)(2)). If you sell into Puerto Rico, Hispanic-market grocery chains, or bodegas that stock Spanish-labeled goods, your label usually needs it.
| Quick facts | Bilingual (English/Spanish) |
|---|---|
| Governing rule | 21 CFR 101.9(d)(14); 21 CFR 101.15(c)(1)-(c)(2) |
| Allowed when | Anytime: one panel with English then Spanish, or two full panels (101.9(d)(14)) |
| Required when | When any label text is in Spanish (or another language), all required statements must appear in that language too (101.15(c)) |
| Package area | Any |
| In the NutriLabels builder | Renders in the NutriLabels builder |
When you may use it
You can add a second language to your Nutrition Facts panel whether or not the rest of your label is bilingual. 101.9(d)(14) gives two layout options: present the nutrition information “in a separate nutrition label for each language” (two full panels) or combine them into “one nutrition label with the information in the second language following that in English.” Either way, “all required information must be included in both languages.” One shortcut the rule allows: “numeric characters that are identical in both languages need not be repeated,” so “Protein/Proteínas 2 g” is compliant without writing the number twice.
When it is required
There’s no standalone rule that says “translate your Nutrition Facts panel.” The requirement comes from 101.15(c), which governs the whole label, not just the panel. 101.15(c)(1) sets English as the default language, with one geographic exception: “in the case of articles distributed solely in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or in a Territory where the predominant language is one other than English, the predominant language may be substituted for English.” 101.15(c)(2) is the broader trigger: “if the label contains any representation in a foreign language, all words, statements, and other information required…shall appear thereon in the foreign language.” In practice, that means any Spanish claim, ingredient callout, or marketing line anywhere on your package pulls the entire required label (Nutrition Facts, ingredient statement, allergen statement, net quantity) into Spanish alongside English. A narrow foodservice exception in 101.15(c)(2) covers individual servings of 1½ ounces or less served with meals in restaurants and similar settings, which rarely applies to a retail package.
What changes on the panel
Headings, order, and mandatory nutrients stay identical to the standard vertical panel; bilingual changes presentation, not content. The two-panel layout repeats the full Nutrition Facts panel twice, English then Spanish, each independently compliant. The single-panel layout lists each nutrient once in English immediately followed by its Spanish equivalent (Calories/Calorías, Total Fat/Grasa Total, and so on), sharing one column of numbers where the values are identical. Footnotes, the “% Daily Value” line, and serving size all need Spanish equivalents too. Nothing is exempt just because it’s boilerplate.
Common mistakes
- Translating only the front-of-pack claim and leaving the Nutrition Facts panel in English, missing that 101.15(c)(2) pulls in the whole label.
- Re-translating numbers that are identical in both languages, which 101.9(d)(14) says isn’t necessary and just adds clutter.
- Using informal or regional Spanish for nutrient names instead of the standard terms (Grasa Total, Carbohidrato Total, Azúcares Añadidos) that Spanish-speaking shoppers expect.
- Assuming a Puerto Rico exemption under 101.15(c)(1) covers products also sold on the mainland. It only applies to articles distributed solely in Puerto Rico or a territory.
- Forgetting the allergen “Contains” statement and ingredient list also need translation once 101.15(c)(2) is triggered, not just the Nutrition Facts panel.
Products that usually need this
Build it
Printing both languages on the first run means a Spanish claim on your front panel already has the Nutrition Facts to match it. 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 (bilingual included), the ingredient statement and allergen declaration, ready to print. Start your label, or compare the other label formats.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) format FAQ
Is a bilingual Nutrition Facts label required for products sold in Puerto Rico?
21 CFR 101.15(c)(1) allows the predominant local language to substitute for English in Puerto Rico or a territory where English isn't predominant, but it doesn't by itself force a two-language panel. If your label also carries English claims or copy, 101.15(c)(2) requires every required statement to appear in both languages.
Can I just translate the Nutrition Facts panel and leave the rest of the label in English?
No. 101.15(c)(2) reads \"if the label contains any representation in a foreign language, all words, statements, and other information required…shall appear thereon in the foreign language\"; the trigger is any foreign-language representation anywhere on the label, not just the panel.
Do I have to repeat numbers like "8 g" in both languages?
No. 101.9(d)(14) says identical numeric characters need not be repeated. FDA's own example is "Protein/Proteinas 2 g."
Does the bilingual format cost more to build?
No. It's one of the formats included when you unlock a label for $29; you're not paying twice for the second language.
What if my retailer wants Spanish on the front but I don't otherwise need it?
Talk to a food-labeling attorney or your state regulator about whether that front-panel copy counts as a "representation" under 101.15(c)(2). Once it does, the Nutrition Facts translation requirement follows automatically.
Related formats
Standard vertical, Simplified, Tabular. See the full all label formats.