Once your recipe is set up and your nutrition label is ready, Food Label Maker gives you full control over what gets included in your download and how the file is saved. You can choose your label format, select which elements appear on the label, and export it in the file type that works best for your needs.
This guide walks you through each step of the download process.
Step 1: Open the Download Panel
From your recipe page, click the Download button in the top toolbar. This opens a panel where you can configure three things before downloading: your label style, what to include on the label, and the file format.
Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Label Style
At the top of the download panel, you will see a dropdown labeled "Choose your preferred label style." This is where you select which nutrition label format to apply to your download.
The dropdown includes all the label formats available on Food Label Maker. Each option shows the label name along with a short description. Some of the options you will see include:
Standard FDA Label — The most common format for U.S. nutrition facts labels, compliant with the FDA's typeface, style, and requirements.
Tabular FDA Label — A horizontal table format compliant with FDA regulations.
Linear FDA Label — A single-line format designed for small packages.
Simplified FDA Label — For products that qualify to display fewer mandatory nutrients.
Dual Column FDA Label (Per Serving / Per Container) — Shows nutrition content both per serving and for the entire package.
Dual Column FDA Label (As Sold / As Prepared) — For products that require preparation before consumption.
Aggregate Standard FDA Label — Displays multiple food components or varieties together in one panel.
Canadian Standard Label — Bilingual nutrition facts table compliant with CFIA requirements.
Canadian Dual Format — Dual column display for food as sold and as prepared.
Canadian Linear Format — A linear display for small packages, available in English or French.
UK Back-of-Pack Nutrition Table — Full numeric table aligned with UK regulations.
UK Front-of-Pack (Traffic Light System) — Color-coded indicators for calories, fat, saturates, sugars, and salt.
Mexico Back-of-Pack Nutrition Table — Available in Spanish only or English/Spanish, based on NOM-051 regulations.
Australia & New Zealand NIP Format — Shows per serving and per 100 g/100 mL values, compliant with FSANZ.
EU Standard Label Format — Shows energy in kJ and kcal with mandatory nutrients per 100 g/100 mL, compliant with DG SANTE.
GSO Standard Nutrition Label — Available in Arabic only or English/Arabic, following GCC regulatory guidelines.
For a full visual guide of every label format, see: All Nutrition Label Formats You Can Create on Food Label Maker.
Step 3: Choose What to Show on Your Downloaded Label
Below the label style dropdown, you will see a section labeled "Choose what to show on your downloaded label." This is a list of checkboxes that let you control exactly which elements appear when you download.
Here is what each option includes:
Recipe Name to appear above label — Adds your recipe name as a header above the nutrition facts panel. This is useful if you are downloading labels for multiple recipes and want them clearly identified.
Nutrition Facts Panel — The nutrition label itself. This is typically the core element of any download and is checked by default.
Ingredient Statement List — The formatted list of ingredients in descending order by weight, as required for food packaging.
Allergen Declaration / Allergy Statement — The allergen statement (e.g., "Contains: Milk, Wheat, Soy") that appears below or alongside the ingredient list.
Business Address — Your company's name and address, which is required on most food labels.
Label Notes — Any additional notes you have added to the label, such as storage instructions, preparation directions, or voluntary claims.
Recipe Tags — Tags you have assigned to the recipe for internal organization (e.g., "Gluten-Free," "Vegan," "Holiday Menu").
Recipe Card QR Code — A QR code that links to a shareable recipe card. This is useful for packaging that needs to direct consumers to more detailed product information.
Front of Pack Label — If your product requires front-of-pack labeling (such as Canadian FOP symbols or Mexico's warning seals), checking this option includes it in the download.
You can check or uncheck any combination of these elements depending on what you need. For example, if you only need the nutrition panel and ingredient list for a co-packer, you can uncheck everything else.
Step 4: Select Your File Format and Download
At the bottom of the panel, you will see the Download button with a format selector. Click the dropdown arrow next to the format name to choose from the following file types:
PNG — A high-resolution image file. This is the default option and works well for most purposes, including printing, sharing with co-packers, and uploading to e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Shopify.
BMP — A bitmap image format. This produces an uncompressed image file, which can be useful for certain print workflows that require uncompressed files.
SVG — A scalable vector graphic. This format is ideal if you or your designer need to resize the label without losing quality. SVG files can be opened and edited in design tools like Adobe Illustrator, Figma, or Canva.
PDF — A portable document format. This is a good choice for sending labels to printers, co-packers, or regulatory reviewers, since PDFs maintain consistent formatting across devices.
XLSX — An Excel spreadsheet file. This exports the nutritional data in a tabular format, which is useful if you need to submit nutrition information in spreadsheet form or integrate it into other documents.
CSV — A comma-separated values file. Similar to XLSX, this exports the nutrition data in a lightweight format that can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or imported into databases and product management systems.
TXT — A plain text file. This gives you the nutrition data in simple text format, which can be pasted into emails, product listings, or other documents where formatting is not needed.
Once you have selected your format, click the Download button. The file will save directly to your computer.
Tips
If you are sending your label to a printer or co-packer, PDF or SVG are generally the best choices since they preserve quality and formatting at any size.
If you need to submit nutrition data to a retailer or distributor, XLSX or CSV makes it easy to share the numbers in a spreadsheet.
If you are uploading a label image to an e-commerce listing, PNG gives you a clean, high-resolution image that works on most platforms.
You can download the same recipe multiple times with different label styles or checkbox selections. There is no limit to how many times you can export.