Overview
Mexico Front of Pack (FOP) symbols are used on packaged foods to identify products that exceed established thresholds for nutrients and ingredients of concern, including calories, sugars, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium.
Formula Management evaluates the formula against the applicable thresholds and generates the FOP symbols required for the product.
Depending on the formula, additional selections may be required for products containing honey, syrup, or fruit juice, as well as products containing caffeine or non-nutritive sweeteners.
Generate Mexico FOP Symbols
Step 1: Open the Formula.
Step 2: Navigate to Labeling > Consumer Nutrition and select Mexico Front of Pack.
Step 3: If the product is honey, syrup, or fruit juice, select the applicable option.
Important: Mexico FOP sugar calculations use free sugars. Free sugars include added sugars and the sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices. For products that are not honey, syrup, or fruit juice, Formula Management evaluates the Added Sugars amount. For products identified as honey, syrup, or fruit juice, Formula Management evaluates the Total Sugars amount.
Step 4: If applicable, select the option indicating that the product contains caffeine or non-nutritive sweeteners.
Step 5: Select Generate Label.
Formula Management evaluates the formula and displays the FOP symbols that apply based on the product's nutrient values and selected options.
If multiple symbols are required, Formula Management provides the applicable symbol layouts for the number of symbols required. When multiple layouts are permitted, the available layouts are displayed. A single-number symbol is also provided.
Symbol Size
Use the following chart to determine the appropriate size for the FOP symbols based on your package.
Save or Download FOP Symbols
After generating the Mexico FOP symbols, use the options in the upper-right corner of the label window:
- Print — Print the FOP symbols.
- Download Image — Download the symbols as an image file.
- Download PDF — Download the symbols as a PDF.
- Save — Save the generated symbols in Formula Management.
Select the appropriate option based on how you need to use the symbols for packaging development or review.