- Calorie information must be listed on menus and menu boards and at self-serve locations
- Nutrition information must be available to customers, on request
What businesses need to comply with the calorie labeling regulations?
Q. What businesses need to comply with the calorie labeling regulations for menus, menu boards and self-serve fountain beverages?
A. Restaurants and similar retail food establishments (including grocery stores, convenience stores, amusement parks, movie theaters, etc.) that sell restaurant-type food must comply if they are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name and selling substantially the same menu items. (Notes: Franchisees must comply if they are part of a chain with more than 20 outlets, regardless of how many outlets they own. K-12 schools and food trucks, planes, trains and other venues without a fixed location are exempt.)
Q. If a business operates in a state or city with its own calorie labeling regulations, which regulations should the business follow?
A. Businesses that comply with the FDA calorie labeling regulations are no longer required to comply with any non-identical state or local calorie labeling regulations.
FAQs on calorie labeling for menus and menu boards
Q. What are the calorie labeling requirements for menus and menu boards?
A. Menus and menu boards must show calorie counts for all standard beverage offerings and sizes. (Limited time offerings – defined as available for 60 days or less – are exempt.) Calories must be rounded according to FDA labeling rules and displayed next to the name of price of the beverage. The text “Calories” or “Cal” must appear next to the calorie number or in a heading for all the calorie numbers.
Q. Are there type size and color requirements?
A. The type size for the number of calories and the text “Calories” or “Cal” must be as large as the type size for the beverage name or price (whichever is smaller) and must be in a color and have a contrasting background that is the same as, or at least as conspicuous as, the color and contrast used for the name of the associated menu item.
Q. Can calorie ranges be used (e.g., “Small 0-250 Calories”)
A. If the menu or menu board provides a general description of the available beverages (e.g., “soft drinks” or “beverages”), calories can be shown in ranges for each available cup size. If the menu or menu board lists specific beverage flavors (e.g., Pepsi, Mtn Dew, etc.) or specific varieties (e.g., cola, lemon-lime, etc.), calories must be listed separately for each flavor or variety and each available size.
Q. Does the number of fluid ounces need to be displayed for each size beverage on the menu or menu board?
A. No. On menus and menu boards, the number of fluid ounces is not required.
Q. What about ice - how is that handled?
A. On menus and menu boards, calorie counts should be adjusted for ice if beverages are served by a crew person (not self-serve) and if a standard ice-fill is followed. Otherwise, calories must be shown for the full cup, with no adjustment for ice.
Q. Is any additional information required?
A. For each standard beverage offering and available size, the following information must be available to consumers upon request: Total calories, Calories from Fat, Total fat (g), Saturated fat (g), Trans fat (g), Cholesterol (mg) Sodium (mg), Total carbohydrates (g), Dietary fiber (g), Sugars (g), Protein (g). Certain exceptions apply so implementers should consult the regulations for additional detail. The information may be available in a variety of forms such as a pamphlet, binder, poster, computer or other digital display.
Q. How are Combo Meals or other combination items handled?
A. Calories must be displayed for the complete meal or combination, not individual items. Calorie ranges should be used when a variety of beverages or other options are available in the combination. (e.g. Burger, Fries & Med. Drink: 1000 – 1450 Cal)
FAQs on calorie labeling for self-serve fountain beverages
Q. What are the calorie labeling requirements for self-serve fountain beverages?
A. For self-serve fountain beverages, calorie information must be shown at the self-serve dispensing location as well as on menus and menu boards. At the self-serve dispensing location, the total number of calories for each available flavor and size must be shown, accompanied by the term “Calories” or “Cal”, the cup description (e.g. Small, Medium, Large) used on the menu or menu, and the number of fluid ounces in the cup.
Q. Where do the calorie declarations need to be displayed for self-service beverages?
A. Calorie information can be shown on or adjacent to the dispensing equipment as long as it is visible and readable by consumers when they make their beverage choice.
Q. Are there type size and color requirements?
A. Yes. All the required text (i.e., the number of calories, the term “Calories” or “Cal”, the number of fluid ounces, and the name of the cup as described on the menu or menu board) must be in a type size at least as large as the type size of the name of the beverage on the same sign where the calorie information is provided. Also, all the required text must have a color and contrast that are at least as conspicuous as the name of the beverage on the same sign.
Q. Are ice adjustments permitted?
A. No. Calorie information for self-service beverages must be shown for the full cup, with no adjustment for ice.
These FAQs are provided for general reference only. Customers should consult legal counsel to determine whether they are subject to the calorie labeling regulations and to develop specific compliance strategies.
Download FDA's Guidebook on U.S. Calorie Labeling Regulations which includes a detailed Q&A and practical guidance.
PepsiCo is helping customers meet the labeling requirements for fountain beverages with new services and tools.
- Calorie and Nutrition Reports These reports, which can be viewed online or downloaded in Excel, provide the calorie information needed for menus and menu boards and the additional nutrition information which must be available on request. Select the tab below to…
- customize your report to show just the beverage flavors and sizes you offer
- adjust calorie and nutrition values for your standard ice fill (for crew-served beverages only)
- get unrounded information, for use in calculating total calories and nutrition in combo meals, or rounded information for all other uses
- Additional Support for Self-Serve Fountain Dispensers
- SPIRE equipment: Customers with Pepsi Spire dispensers can choose to have calorie information displayed on the Spire screens. Click here for instructions.
- Traditional equipment: Customers with traditional dispensers can create and order customized calorie placards. Select the tab below to…
- create a calorie placard for the beverage flavors, cup sizes and cup names you offer
- order your calorie placards
- access resources including instructions for placing the placards on your fountain dispenser
Create a print-ready calorie placard for your self-serve beverage dispenser.
Click an image below to select the type of placard you would like to create.
Soft Drink Dispensers
Juice Dispensers
Frozen Drink Dispensers
4-Valve Non-Carb Dispensers
1 & 2-Valve Non-Carb Dispensers
Learn more about calorie placards
PepsiCo and other members of the beverage industry worked together to develop a standardized design for calorie labels on self-serve fountain equipment that would comply with the FDA regulations and be clear and understandable for consumers. The resulting design uses either a white gradient background with black lettering, or a solid black background with white lettering, and includes an offset border. To give the calorie information context, the placard has a heading that says "Calorie Choices for Calorie Balance" and includes two explanatory notes:
1. "Calories are shown for full cups with no ice. Adding ice will reduce calories."
2. "Diet beverages contain small amounts of calories that typically round to zero per FDA rules. In larger sizes, these calories may round to more than zero." (Note: this footnote may be omitted if the placard does not include any diet beverages with zero calories in small sizes and more than zero calories for larger sizes.)
The layout and messages were tested with consumers and performed well for clarity and understanding. Calorie placards with the additional messages were preferred over those without them.
Creating calorie placards
The calorie placards created on this site are designed to be printed on self-adhesive material and placed on self-serve fountain dispensers following specific instructions covered in the section below. Since each placard is designed to fit in a specific location on a specific type of equipment, the first step in creating a calorie placard is to indicate what type of equipment it will be used on. (If you plan to place one placard in a location visible to multiple types of equipment, instead of placing it directly on the equipment, use the soft drink dispenser format which is the largest and most flexible.)
After selecting your equipment type...
1. Enter the cup sizes and cup names and select the beverage flavors to appear on the placard. (Note: the cup names must match those used on the menu or menu board)
2. Enter the name of the business where the placard will be displayed and your contact name and email address
3. Click VIEW PLACARD DATA and review your selections to be sure they are correct.
The following chart will be helpful in planning your placards:
| Placard Type | # Flavors | # Cup Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Drink Dispenser | 4 to 24 | 1 to 4 |
| Juice Dispenser | 2 to 4 | 1 to 4 |
| Frozen Drink Dispenser | 1 or 2 | 1 to 4 |
| Tea and Other Non-Carbs | 1* | 1 to 4 |
*For 2-flavor tea/non-carb dispensers, you will need to make 2 placards, one for each flavor. See placement instructions below for explanation.
Tip: To cover the range of possible flavors offered in different outlets, you may want to put more flavors on your placard than are available in any one dispenser. This may be particularly helpful for placards created for soft drink dispensers.
Now you have a few choices. You can...
• Click EDIT to change your selections
• Click CLEAR to delete your placard data and return to the home page of the Fountain Reports section
• Click SAVE DATA to save your selections and placard data and work on them later. (Data will be saved for 2 weeks.)
• Click VIEW PLACARD to put your data in the calorie placard layout. The calorie placard PDF that downloads to your computer is in a high resolution format, ready for printing. Be sure to save it to your computer because it will not be stored on the website.
Once you have finalized your calorie placard, go to the Print Placard Tab to learn about printing options and next steps.
Printing calorie placards
Once you have finalized your calorie placard in the CREATE CALORIE PLACARD tab, you can take the PDF to any printer for production. If you plan to place the placard on our equipment, it must be printed on a self-adhesive material and placed in the specific locations detailed below.
An online ordering process is available through this site. Go to the Print Placard Tab to learn about printing options and next steps.
Placing calorie placards on our equipment
The calorie placards created on this website are designed to be printed on self-adhesive material and placed directly on self-serve fountain dispensers in the locations specified below. They cannot be placed anywhere else on our equipment and no other placards or signage can be placed on our equipment unless approved by the PepsiCo Food Service Marketing team.
Soft Drink Dispensers
Place the placard on the center of the backsplash.
Juice Dispensers
Place the placard on the center of the backsplash.
Frozen Drink Dispensers
One flavor: Center the placard above the dispensing valve.
Two flavors: Center the placard between the two dispensing valves.
Tea and Non-Carb Drinks Dispensers
One flavor: Center the placard behind the dispensing valve.
Two flavors: (Requires two placards, one for each flavor) Center each placard behind the appropriate dispensing valve.
PepsiCo is making this site available to you as a low-cost alternative for production of fountain calorie labels.
The placards that can be developed/downloaded on this site are print ready. You have the option to print your placards with National Beverage Screen Printers (NBS), a third-party equipment graphics provider who has offered the pricing below to PepsiCo Foodservice Customers or to print your placards with a printer of your choice.
Printing Through NBS
1. CREATE: Click the "CREATE CALORIE PLACARDS" tab on this website to create and download a high resolution PDF of your calorie placard.
2. ORDER: Email your placard PDF to orders@nbsinc.net with the following information:
• Customer Name
• The unique Identifier Number for your placard(s) which is printed in the bottom right corner of each placard.
• Order Quantity (if ordering more than one placard design, list quantity by placard unique identifier number)
• Ship to Contact Name, Email, Mailing Address
• Main point of contact for placard: Name, Email, Phone Number
3. CONFIRM: NBS will confirm your order and provide a printing estimate within 24 hours via email.
4. PRINT/SHIP: NBS has agreed to produce placards for customers, using a self-adhesive material that has a quality variance of 3.5 to 3.7 mill. Allow 7-10 calendar days for printing. Shipping times will vary based on the location of your central delivery point. See below for bulk (25+) and non-bulk (less than 25) pricing by placard size. Bulk pricing will be applied if you print a minimum of 25 placards* (all with the same unique identifier) and ship to 1 location.
*Bulk pricing does not apply to:
•one-off placard orders / less than 25 placards
•printing of a variation of placards that don’t amount to the minimum bulk run (25 placards)
•Shipping to various locations
Placard Type # Beverages # Cup Sizes Placard Size
(W x H)Cost Per Placard (min 25) Cost Per Placard (less than 25) Soft Drink Dispenser 4-6 1-4 6" x 5" $.55 each $5 each 7-11 1-4 7" x 5" $.55 each $5 each 12-24 1-4 10" x 5" $.55 each $5 each Juice Dispenser 2 1-2 4" x 3" $.55 each $5 each 2 3-4 5" x 3" $.55 each $5 each 4 1-4 Tea/Other Non-Carb Urn 1 1 to 2 2" x 2" $.40 each $5 each 1 3-4 2" x 3" $.40 each $5 each Frozen Beverage Dispenser 1 1-2 1.75" x 1.75" $.40 each $5 each 1 3-4 1.75" x 3" $.40 each $5 each 2 1-2 3" x 3" $.55 each $5 each 2 3-4 3" x 4" $.55 each $5 each
5. DISTRIBUTE: Distribute calorie placards and Application Instructions to each of your locations.
Should you have any questions about ordering from NBS, please contact NBS directly at orders@nbsinc.net.
Using Your Own Local Printer
Click the "CREATE CALORIE PLACARDS" tab on this website to create and download a high resolution PDF of your calorie placard. Save the PDF to a memory stick to take to your printer or email the PDF file to them. Have the printer follow the instructions on the Placard PDF for the placard size and print material. Follow the Application Instructions to ensure the placard is placed properly on the beverage dispenser.
Download calorie and nutrition information for use on menus and menu boards.
Step 1
Define Up to 4 Cup Sizes.
# FL OZ Cup Name (optional)Size 1:
Size 2:
Size 3:
Size 4:
Step 2
Select products from the lists below. (Hold down the control (ctrl) or command (cmd) button to select multiple products.)
Fountain Drinks 4-Valve Non-Carb Dispensers 1 & 2-Valve Non-Carb Dispensers Juices Frozen Drinks Flavor ShotsCustomer Name:
Your Name:
Your Email†:
† Email addresses will be used only if there is a problem in the placard creation process.
Based on your selections, the data in the chart below will appear on your calorie placard.
- Click EDIT to change your selections
- Click CLEAR to delete your placard data and return to the home page of the Fountain Reports section
- Click SAVE DATA to save your selections and placard data and work on them later. (Data will be saved for 2 weeks.)
- Click VIEW PLACARD to put your data in the calorie placard layout. The calorie placard PDF that downloads to your computer is in a high resolution format, ready for printing. Be sure to save it to your computer because it will not be stored on the website.
Once you have finalized your calorie placard, go to the Print Placard Tab to learn about printing options and next steps.
| Product Name |
FL OZ |
FL OZ |
FL OZ |
FL OZ |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Diet beverages contain small amounts of calories that typically round to zero per FDA rules. In larger sizes, these calories may round to more than zero. Customer Name: Your Name: Your Email: |
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