Minnesota honey and maple syrup labels: what has to be on the jar
Selling honey or syrup at a farmers market, a farm stand or a local store? The Minnesota Department of Agriculture spells out what the label has to say, where the weight goes and how small the type can be. Here it is in one place, with the optional extras and where to check sizes for common jars.
The required label, in plain terms
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) publishes its label requirements for honey and pure maple syrup side by side, and they match almost line for line. The honey rules cover liquid and comb honey; processed honey carries all the requirements of a processed food.
| Requirement | Honey | Maple syrup |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | “Honey.” A floral source like “Clover Honey” is optional, and only if you can support that it is the main source | “Maple syrup.” Add sweeteners or anything else and it can no longer be called pure maple syrup |
| Net quantity | By weight or measure; from 1 to 4 pounds, show both ounces and pounds | By weight or measure; from a pint to a gallon, show both ounces and the full unit |
| Where the net quantity goes | Lower third of the main panel, set apart from other print | Same |
| Name and address | Business name and address, including ZIP code | Same |
| Ingredients | Only if there is anything besides honey; artificial colors named | Only if there is anything besides maple syrup; de-foaming agents used properly need not be listed |
| Smallest type | No letter or number under 1/16 inch anywhere on the label | Same |
| Nutrition facts | When applicable; any health or nutrition claim brings nutrition labeling | Same |
Net weight: the line homemade labels most often miss
MDA is specific about the net quantity statement. Between one and four pounds it shows both units, with fractions over a pound written as decimals: “Net wt 24 oz (1.5 lb)”, not “1 1/2 lb”. It sits in the bottom third of the main panel, separated from everything else, and its height depends on the size of that panel:
| Label panel area | Minimum height |
|---|---|
| 5 square inches or less | 1/16 inch |
| More than 5, less than 25 square inches | 1/8 inch |
| More than 25 square inches | 3/16 inch |
MDA notes the metric equivalent is sometimes required too. Its method: multiply ounces by 28.4, or pounds by 454, and round to whole grams.
Optional extras, and the one most producers add
- Floral source
“Clover Honey” or “Wildflower Honey” is fine when you can support that the named plant is the main floral source.
- U.S. Grade
Voluntary on both, offered as a fee service by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. If a honey label shows a grade, it must be accurate and must declare the country of origin.
- Infant warning
“Do not feed to infants under one year of age.” MDA says it is not required by regulation, but it is common because some honey carries naturally occurring botulism spores. We put it on every honey label we design.
- Health claims
Skip them unless you are ready for a nutrition panel: any health or nutrition claim brings special nutrition labeling.
Labels and licenses are different questions
This page covers the label. Licensing is separate. Minnesota’s food licensing law does not apply to people selling the products of the farm or garden they occupy and cultivate (Minn. Stat. 28A.15, subd. 2), and processed honey is handled as a processed food. Whether your sales fit is a question for MDA’s licensing line at 651-201-6062, not for a print shop.
Labels that look good on a farmers market table
Jars get handled, wiped and stacked, and syrup goes in the fridge after it is opened, so we print these on water-resistant label stock rather than paper. Our label size chart covers wrap-around sizes for common jars and bottles, and the label size calculator works out a custom one. Small batches print as sheet labels; if you are labeling hundreds of jars, roll labels go on faster by hand or by machine.
Selling jams, baked goods or other foods too? Our Minnesota cottage food label guide covers those rules, with a free template. Send us your jar size, weight and logo and we will proof a label at size. One plain reminder: MDA is the authority on food labels, and nothing here is legal advice.
Honey and syrup label FAQ
The word “honey,” the net weight in the lower third of the main panel (ounces and pounds both shown from 1 to 4 pounds), your business name and address with ZIP code, and an ingredient list if anything besides honey is in the jar. No letter or number may be smaller than 1/16 inch.
Not by regulation, according to MDA. “Do not feed to infants under one year of age” is still common because some honey carries naturally occurring botulism spores.
In the lower third of the main panel, set apart from other print. Between one and four pounds show both units, with decimals over a pound: “Net wt 24 oz (1.5 lb).”
Yes, if you can support that clover is the main floral source. Naming the floral source is optional.
At least 1/16 inch on a label panel of 5 square inches or less, 1/8 inch from 5 to 25 square inches, and 3/16 inch on a panel larger than 25 square inches.
Nearly. The label says “maple syrup,” carries the net quantity, your business name and address, and ingredients if anything besides syrup is added. Anything added means it can no longer be called pure maple syrup.
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