Typophile

A good alternative to helvetica for 'Nutritional information' on food packaging

djbaz

Hi everyone!

Im a bit stuck on what typeface to use for the Nutrition Tables/Food tables on my food packaging design...at the moment i have got
helvetica as place holder on my design...

From what i have seen and read..the typeface for Nutrition Tables/Food tables its generally
Helvetica,Franklin Gothic or trade gothic ( i think in the states they recommend to use in on the food label?)

I like the look of FF Milo (ias it has a nice large xheight and looks
awesome small print - first saw it on fontfeed) and Galaxie Polaris a new typeface designed by
Chester Jenkins.

Can anyone suggest a good alternative to helvetica that prints good very small and perhaps has a larger x-height?
or you think i should just stick with helvetica for the Nutrition information?

Thanks for your time, appreciate it!

paul d hunt

FF Legato

Chris Keegan

Amplitude, works well at small sizes.

kentlew

I could be wrong, but I thought the reason that Nutritional Labels always appear in Helvetica is because its mandated by the FDA.

-- K.

kentlew

Okay, I see now that they don't mandate the exact typeface, just certain parameters:

http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/nleatxt.html#General/Formal%20&%2...

But Helvetica and Franklin Gothic are specifically used in the government example, so everybody probably uses these so as to guarantee that the label won't be found in violation of the requirements.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/igs/nutri18.gif

I applaud your interest in making your label nicer, but just be careful that you don't end up causing your company a lot of headache with fines and reprinting costs.

-- K.

Nick Shinn

The specification is "easy to read type style".

What we need is someone to start up a Typeface Readability Certification Agency, wherein foundries can register their faces for a fee.
Expect to see it announced next Feb. 1.

Si_Daniels

Or Apr 1

djbaz

Awesome thanks for some of your guys Suggestions... I don't have to worry about a company as this is a student project however i am trying to get the finish product/package looking like industry (supermarket) level obviously.

kentlew - cheers for the links, however in New Zealand hey don't really specify i recommend typeface for Nutrition information like that did on that site.

http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-labelling/understanding-food-lab...

Overall i guess im a little subjective to use Helvetica as i feel it is overused and i tend not to use it in my work.
However since its so familiar i think consumers will wonder whats different if i was to change it dramatically?

thats why i guess many people do use helvetica as its a pretty safe typeface, and you can't go wrong with it.

the food labeling is for a children's snack...but the parents would no doubt be reading that information/buying the product.

But if anyone else has more alternatives, that would be much appreciated... i will have a go to see what the suggestions look like
Cheers

Nick Shinn

Or Apr 1

Thanks Si.
That's what I meant, but got April Fool's Day confused with my wedding anniversary.
Don't tell my wife.

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