Packaging and Label Design Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Packaging and Label Design facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What are the nine major food allergens now required to be declared on US labels under FASTER Act (2023)? → Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame
2. In packaging psychology, the 'mere exposure effect' refers to: → Consumers developing a preference for brands they have seen repeatedly
3. Research shows that heavier packaging materials are often perceived by consumers as: → Higher quality
4. What is a 'bleed' in label printing? → Artwork that extends beyond the trim line to prevent white edges after cutting
5. How can the visual appearance of your product packaging affect consumer choice? → It can make them feel more positive emotions about the product.
6. Which contrast ratio is recommended by WCAG for accessible text on packaging? → 4.5:1
7. Which color model is used for professional label printing? → CMYK
8. This is a product's actual packaging or container. → packaging
9. What is a 'die line' in label design? → The outline shape that defines where the label will be cut
10. Automatic label printing for shipments. → True
11. When a brand uses the same color palette, typeface, and graphic style across all SKUs in a product line, this is called: → Package blocking
12. What is a 'structure/function claim' on a dietary supplement label? → A claim describing the role of a nutrient or ingredient in the body's normal function
13. What does 'extended producer responsibility' (EPR) require of packaging companies in the US? → Manufacturers are financially responsible for end-of-life management of their packaging
14. What is the minimum type size required by FDA for the Nutrition Facts label on most standard-sized food packages? → 8 pt
15. What type of adhesive is used for labels that need to be removed cleanly without residue? → Removable pressure-sensitive adhesive
16. On a retail shelf, a package design that stands out from its category competitors by using an unexpected color is leveraging which strategy? → Category disruption
17. What is the purpose of a 'release liner' in pressure-sensitive label construction? → To protect the adhesive until the label is applied and allow labels to be wound on a roll
18. Which type of typeface is generally considered most legible for small label copy? → Sans-serif
19. Which packaging material is considered most environmentally friendly due to its high recyclability rate in the US? → Aluminum
20. This is a product's information tag, wrapper, seal, or imprinted message. → label
21. What is the general concept of food labeling? → The requirements of food labeling are constantly changing
22. Under FDA food labeling rules, ingredients must be listed in what order? → Descending order by weight
23. Which US labeling claim requires the most substantiation under FTC Green Guides? → 'Recyclable' claims
24. When designing box packaging, who should you think about first? → Your intended customer
25. What is 'source reduction' in sustainable packaging? → Reducing the amount of material used in a package at the design stage
26. Which US law requires warning labels on products containing lead above certain thresholds? → California Proposition 65
27. Which packaging feature helps consumers identify the resin type for proper sorting? → Resin Identification Code (RIC) number inside the chasing arrows
28. What label statement must accompany a structure/function claim on a dietary supplement? → This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
29. Which term describes the emotional bond consumers form with a brand's packaging over time, making them resistant to a redesign? → Packaging equity
30. Which neuromarketing research method is most commonly used to measure where a consumer's gaze lands on a package design during shelf simulation studies? → Eye-tracking technology