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Mexico food labeling (NOM-051): Spanish label, warning octagons, importer

Pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic beverages sold in Mexico follow NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010. Its 2020 amendment, published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 27 March 2020, added the black octagonal front-of-pack warnings from 1 October 2020. Imported food needs a Spanish label with the importer's details; labels are checked at the border, and the Mexican importer is responsible for them.

Checked against official sources: 2026-10

At a glance

StandardNOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, amended in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 27 March 2020
Front-of-pack warningsApplied from 1 October 2020
LanguageMandatory information in Spanish
ImporterName and address of the importer in Mexico, which may follow "fabricado o envasado por o para"
Basic itemsName, ingredients, net content, country of origin, lot, expiry or best-before date, nutrition information
OctagonsEXCESO CALORÍAS, EXCESO AZÚCARES, EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS, EXCESO GRASAS TRANS, EXCESO SODIO
LegendsCONTIENE CAFEÍNA – EVITAR EN NIÑOS; CONTIENE EDULCORANTES – NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS
ChecksLabel compliance is checked at the border; the Mexican importer is responsible for it

What a Mexican food label must show

NOM-051 sets the commercial and health information for pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic beverages: the name of the product, the list of ingredients, net content, the name and address of the party responsible, country of origin, lot identification, the expiry or best-before date and nutrition information. The mandatory information is in Spanish.

Imported food may use the phrase "fabricado o envasado por o para" followed by the name and address of the importer in Mexico, so the label names the Mexican party responsible for the product. Many exporters ship with a Spanish sticker agreed with the importer, which must carry all the mandatory information.

Mexico food label checklist for exporters

Warning octagons and legends

Since the 2020 amendment, food that exceeds the nutrient limits of NOM-051 carries black octagons with a white border on the front of the pack: EXCESO CALORÍAS, EXCESO AZÚCARES, EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS, EXCESO GRASAS TRANS and EXCESO SODIO, each with the words Secretaría de Salud. A product shows every octagon it qualifies for, so one that exceeds both the calorie and the sugar limits shows both.

Two precautionary legends go in the upper right of the principal display panel, below the octagons if there are any: CONTIENE CAFEÍNA – EVITAR EN NIÑOS for products with added caffeine, and CONTIENE EDULCORANTES – NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS for products with sweeteners. The limits apply in phases: under a DOF agreement of 31 July 2025, the second-phase values apply until 31 December 2027 and the final values from 1 January 2028.

Step by step

  1. Agree with the Mexican importer on the Spanish label or sticker and the importer's details.
  2. Check the nutrient content against the current NOM-051 limits to see which octagons apply.
  3. Add the caffeine or sweetener legend if the product contains them.
  4. Show country of origin, lot and the expiry or best-before date.
  5. Agree with the importer who completes the labeling, before shipping or under customs control.

Documents you usually need

Common problems and how to avoid them

The label is only in English.

What to do: Provide the mandatory information in Spanish, printed or on a sticker agreed with the importer.

A drink with sweeteners has no legend.

What to do: Add CONTIENE EDULCORANTES – NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS below the octagons.

Only one octagon is shown although two limits are exceeded.

What to do: Show every octagon the product qualifies for.

The label does not name a Mexican responsible party.

What to do: Add the importer's name and address in Mexico.

Sources

  1. Modificación a la NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 (Diario Oficial de la Federación, 27 March 2020) Diario Oficial de la Federación (Mexico)
  2. Acuerdo on the transitional phases of NOM-051 (Diario Oficial de la Federación, 31 July 2025) Diario Oficial de la Federación (Mexico)
  3. Manual de la modificación a la NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 Gobierno de México
  4. Mexico: labeling and marking requirements International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Rules change often. This note is practical guidance based on the sources above, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the authority, your importer or a licensed customs broker before you ship.

Port codes by country

Mexico port codes (UN/LOCODE)

Food label requirements by country →

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Trade notes

How to Export to Mexico in 2026: New Tariffs up to 50%, 16% IVA, PedimentoExporting to Mexico in 2026: the tariff increases of up to 50% for countries without a trade agreement, how IGI duty and 16% IVA are calculated,…USMCA certificate of origin: the 9 data elements, blanket period and thresholdsHow the USMCA (CUSMA, T-MEC) certification of origin works: who can complete it, the nine minimum data elements, no prescribed form, the 12-month…FDA food label requirements for imported food: panels, English, allergensWhat a food label needs for the US under FDA rules: name and net quantity on the front panel in metric and US units, name and address, ingredients…

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Common questions

Which standard sets food labeling in Mexico?

NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, amended in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 27 March 2020.

What are the black octagons on Mexican food labels?

Front-of-pack warnings for food that exceeds the limits for calories, sugars, saturated fat, trans fat or sodium, such as EXCESO AZÚCARES.

Does imported food in Mexico need a Spanish label?

Yes. The mandatory information must be in Spanish, with the importer's name and address.

Which legends are required for caffeine and sweeteners?

CONTIENE CAFEÍNA – EVITAR EN NIÑOS and CONTIENE EDULCORANTES – NO RECOMENDABLE EN NIÑOS, in the upper right of the principal display panel, below any octagons.

When did the Mexican warning labels start?

On 1 October 2020; the nutrient limits apply in phases, with the final values from 1 January 2028.

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