Last verified 21 Sept 2026 · generated from 21 CFR 101.9(b) and 101.12(b) by the NutriLabels serving engine · Sources
Soda serving size: 12 fl oz (360mL). FDA files soda under “Carbonated and noncarbonated beverages, wine coolers, water”, whose reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) is 360 mL. The serving on your Nutrition Facts panel is the household measure closest to that reference amount, written as the measure followed by its volume in millilitres (beverages are declared by volume, 21 CFR 101.9(b)(7)).
The declaration
| FDA category | Carbonated and noncarbonated beverages, wine coolers, water |
| Reference amount (RACC) | 360 mL |
| FDA label statement | 12 fl oz (360 mL) |
| Serving size declaration | 12 fl oz (360mL) |
| Single-serving container | Any package under 720 mL (24 fl oz) is one serving: the whole package is the serving size (21 CFR 101.9(b)(6)). |
| Dual-column panel | Packages holding 720–1080 mL (24–36 fl oz) must show a second column for the whole package (21 CFR 101.9(b)(12)). |
Servings per container
| Package | Serving size | Servings per container |
|---|---|---|
| 8 fl oz (240 mL) | 1 package (240mL) | 1 (single-serving container) |
| 12 fl oz (360 mL) | 1 package (360mL) | 1 (single-serving container) |
| 16 fl oz (480 mL) | 1 package (480mL) | 1 (single-serving container) |
| 20 fl oz (600 mL) | 1 package (600mL) | 1 (single-serving container) |
| 32 fl oz (960 mL) | 12 fl oz (360mL) | about 2.5 · dual column |
Servings are rounded exactly as 21 CFR 101.9(b)(8) requires: to the nearest whole number, except between 2 and 5 servings, which round to the nearest half; “about” marks any rounding.
What this means for your label
- Declare the serving as 12 fl oz followed by its volume in millilitres, for example “12 fl oz (360mL)”.
- Beverages are declared by volume: fluid ounces are permitted for the household measure, and the metric figure is millilitres, not grams (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(i) and (b)(7)).
- Cups are written in 1/4- or 1/3-cup steps; tablespoons as 1, 1 1/3, 1 1/2, 1 2/3, 2 or 3; teaspoons as 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 or 2 (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(i)). Any other increment is not permitted.
- A package under 720 g is one serving no matter what: the panel reads “1 serving per container” and the serving size is the whole package.
- All the nutrient values on the panel are per this serving, rounded by 21 CFR 101.9(c). Change the serving and every number changes with it.
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Also covers
sparkling water · water · flavored water · lemonade · iced tea · kombucha · energy drink · sports drink · agua fresca · horchata · cold brew · seltzer · tonic · wine cooler · hard seltzer · mocktail · drink · beverage: all filed under the same FDA category, so the same serving applies.
Related serving sizes
- Soft drink: 12 fl oz (360mL)
Sources
- 21 CFR 101.12: Reference amounts customarily consumed per eating occasion (Table 2).
- 21 CFR 101.9(b), serving size: (b)(2) the three procedures, (b)(5) how the measure is written, (b)(6) single-serving containers, (b)(8) servings per container, (b)(12) dual column.