do you have to list ingredients on pkg?

[Former_Member]

So I was at a show this past weekend and unfortunately placed right across from a vendor who sold lotion bars and wax melts. They did have some jewelry and other items, and even though I do not make the same exact items but they are still close and that is sorta aggravating. I make soy candles and soaps and lotions. So the guy that worked that booth was on the phone the whole time or would walk away from his booth for extended amounts of time. He did have some of his lotion bars out as samples to try. The lady at the booth beside me and myself decided to try a sample one of the times he was away and I noticed they sold the bars in just a plain zip lock bag. It had no label or anything. He did have a small sign to the side that had a paragraph about something and then had the ingredients. I guess my question is, is that legal? Even if I saw myself as a customer I don't think I would feel comfortable buying something that didn't have a label that I could take home with me. They would have tons of people come up and try their samples but of course I am not sure how much they sold. I had some samples out too. I am just slightly frustrated I guess because I felt like I went through a lot to look nice and presentable and I feel like they just kinda of through theirs together and then didn't care to even be there. Thanks to listening to my rant lol

[LizArti]

I don't know if it's legal or not, but I've bought handmade soap with no label and had no concern about it. They were packed in wax paper bags.

The show organizer never should have put you so close to someone selling similar items.

I'm not sure exactly why you're so upset with the other vendor. Did they take customers away from you? I can't image that they did too well from what you're saying.

[botanicalatelieretsy]

Soap does not need an ingredient label (so says the F.D.A.) as long as it is clearly marked as soap and not sold as anything else. Everything else needs a label.

[TigersandDragons]

In Canada, handmade soap needs to be labelled, and in a specific way, that gives the full (chemical sounding) name of some ingredients.
Small crafters sometimes can go for years without being noticed or having to comply.

[Former_Member]

I don't know about the legality of it, but I know that if you sell anything that is ingested (eaten) you DO have to jump through a lot more hoops. I'E. a commercial kitchen for creation, lists of ingredients, etc. It sounds like this guy wasn't a very good seller or he would have been watching his booth like a hawk. You will always lose a customer if someone sidles up to your booth and there's no one there to talk to. They just move on. Hopefully they moved across the aisle to your booth. I wouldn't worry too much about this fellow, because he clearly doesn't care much. And if his packaging wasn't very pretty anyway, I'm sure he didn't sell much. Packaging doesn't sell a product, but given a choice.....

You'll see all kinds of vendors at craft shows, some good and some bad. Evidently you were paired with a pretty bad one. Just hope you don't have to be next to him again in the future, and when you are, feel comfort in the fact that he's not a very good seller. Or obviously doesn't have a passion for his product.

[stringnstone]

Legal or not some people have allergies and putting the ingredients on the label allows them to see what is in the product...

[PrairiePrimitives]

I agree with Margaret. If the product goes ON or IN the body (soap, perfume, makeup, food, etc.), I would prefer to see a list of ingredients.

[Former_Member]

I know the frustration. As someone else said soap no all others yes. However it is good practice to list on everything because you don't know what ppl are allergic too. Most people would not go into the big stores and buy soap in a ziploc bag, at least I wouldn't.