diff --git a/src/app/(dashboard)/kitchen/pantry/page.tsx b/src/app/(dashboard)/kitchen/pantry/page.tsx
index 71d21c3..50df554 100644
--- a/src/app/(dashboard)/kitchen/pantry/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(dashboard)/kitchen/pantry/page.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export default async function PantryPage() {
         pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true, pricePaid: true, priceUnit: true,
         location: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
         plant: { select: { id: true, commonName: true, variety: true } },
+        labels: { select: { label: { select: { name: true } } } },
       },
     }),
     db.location.findMany({
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export default async function PantryPage() {
     locationName: i.location?.name ?? null,
     plantId: i.plant?.id ?? null,
     plantName: i.plant ? `${i.plant.commonName}${i.plant.variety ? ` (${i.plant.variety})` : ""}` : null,
+    tags: i.labels.map((l: { label: { name: string } }) => l.label.name),
   }));
 
   return <PantryClient initialItems={serialized} locations={locations} plants={plants} />;
diff --git a/src/app/api/pantry/[id]/route.ts b/src/app/api/pantry/[id]/route.ts
index 9c595de..c56ab36 100644
--- a/src/app/api/pantry/[id]/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/pantry/[id]/route.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@ import { ItemSource } from "@prisma/client";
 import { db } from "@/lib/db";
 import { requireAuth, isAdmin } from "@/lib/auth";
 
+const PANTRY_SELECT = {
+  id: true, name: true, description: true, quantity: true, unit: true,
+  storedAt: true, bestBefore: true, source: true, plantId: true, notes: true,
+  pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true, pricePaid: true, priceUnit: true,
+  location: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
+  plant: { select: { id: true, commonName: true, variety: true } },
+  labels: { select: { label: { select: { id: true, name: true } } } },
+} as const;
+
+async function syncTags(itemId: string, tags: string[]) {
+  const names = Array.from(new Set(tags.map(t => t.trim()).filter(Boolean)));
+  const labels = await Promise.all(
+    names.map(name => db.label.upsert({ where: { name }, update: {}, create: { name }, select: { id: true } }))
+  );
+  await db.labelOnItem.deleteMany({ where: { itemId } });
+  if (labels.length) {
+    await db.labelOnItem.createMany({
+      data: labels.map(l => ({ itemId, labelId: l.id })),
+      skipDuplicates: true,
+    });
+  }
+}
+
 const updateSchema = z.object({
   name: z.string().min(1).optional(),
   description: z.string().nullable().optional(),
@@ -20,6 +43,7 @@ const updateSchema = z.object({
   pricePaid: z.number().nullable().optional(),
   priceUnit: z.string().nullable().optional(),
   notes: z.string().nullable().optional(),
+  tags: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
 });
 
 export async function PATCH(req: Request, { params }: { params: { id: string } }) {
@@ -27,7 +51,7 @@ export async function PATCH(req: Request, { params }: { params: { id: string } }
     const session = await requireAuth();
     const data = updateSchema.parse(await req.json());
 
-    const item = await db.item.update({
+    await db.item.update({
       where: { id: params.id },
       data: {
         ...(data.name !== undefined && { name: data.name }),
@@ -45,20 +69,22 @@ export async function PATCH(req: Request, { params }: { params: { id: string } }
         ...(data.priceUnit !== undefined && { priceUnit: data.priceUnit ?? null }),
         ...(data.notes !== undefined && { notes: data.notes ?? null }),
       },
-      select: {
-        id: true, name: true, description: true, quantity: true, unit: true,
-        storedAt: true, bestBefore: true, source: true, plantId: true, notes: true,
-        pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true, pricePaid: true, priceUnit: true,
-        location: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
-        plant: { select: { id: true, commonName: true, variety: true } },
-      },
     });
 
+    if (data.tags !== undefined) await syncTags(params.id, data.tags);
+
+    const item = await db.item.findUniqueOrThrow({ where: { id: params.id }, select: PANTRY_SELECT });
+
     await db.auditEvent.create({
       data: { action: "pantry.update", entityId: item.id, actorId: session.user.id, payload: { name: item.name } },
     });
 
-    return NextResponse.json(item);
+    return NextResponse.json({
+      ...item,
+      quantity: Number(item.quantity),
+      pricePaid: item.pricePaid != null ? Number(item.pricePaid) : null,
+      tags: item.labels.map(l => l.label.name),
+    });
   } catch (err) {
     if (err instanceof z.ZodError) return NextResponse.json({ error: "Invalid input" }, { status: 400 });
     if (err instanceof Error && err.message === "Unauthorized") return NextResponse.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
diff --git a/src/app/api/pantry/catalog/route.ts b/src/app/api/pantry/catalog/route.ts
index 3e0399c..e0427ee 100644
--- a/src/app/api/pantry/catalog/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/pantry/catalog/route.ts
@@ -32,12 +32,15 @@ export async function GET(req: Request) {
     if (!seen.has(key)) seen.set(key, item);
   }
 
-  // Also return distinct categories/subcategories for autocomplete dropdowns.
-  const allCats = await db.item.findMany({
-    where: { kind: "CONSUMABLE", pantryCategory: { not: null } },
-    select: { pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true },
-    distinct: ["pantryCategory", "pantrySubcategory"],
-  });
+  // Distinct categories/subcategories and all label names for autocomplete.
+  const [allCats, allLabels] = await Promise.all([
+    db.item.findMany({
+      where: { kind: "CONSUMABLE", pantryCategory: { not: null } },
+      select: { pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true },
+      distinct: ["pantryCategory", "pantrySubcategory"],
+    }),
+    db.label.findMany({ select: { name: true }, orderBy: { name: "asc" } }),
+  ]);
 
   const categories = Array.from(new Set(allCats.map(c => c.pantryCategory).filter(Boolean))) as string[];
   const subcategories = allCats
@@ -60,5 +63,6 @@ export async function GET(req: Request) {
     })),
     categories,
     subcategories,
+    labels: allLabels.map(l => l.name),
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/app/api/pantry/route.ts b/src/app/api/pantry/route.ts
index 93456c4..54a60df 100644
--- a/src/app/api/pantry/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/pantry/route.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const PANTRY_SELECT = {
   pantryCategory: true, pantrySubcategory: true, pricePaid: true, priceUnit: true,
   location: { select: { id: true, name: true } },
   plant: { select: { id: true, commonName: true, variety: true } },
+  labels: { select: { label: { select: { id: true, name: true } } } },
 } as const;
 
 function serialize(i: any) {
@@ -27,9 +28,25 @@ function serialize(i: any) {
     locationName: i.location?.name ?? null,
     plantId: i.plant?.id ?? null,
     plantName: i.plant ? `${i.plant.commonName}${i.plant.variety ? ` (${i.plant.variety})` : ""}` : null,
+    tags: (i.labels ?? []).map((l: any) => l.label.name) as string[],
   };
 }
 
+async function syncTags(itemId: string, tags: string[]) {
+  const names = Array.from(new Set(tags.map(t => t.trim()).filter(Boolean)));
+  // Upsert each label, then replace all LabelOnItem rows for this item.
+  const labels = await Promise.all(
+    names.map(name => db.label.upsert({ where: { name }, update: {}, create: { name }, select: { id: true } }))
+  );
+  await db.labelOnItem.deleteMany({ where: { itemId } });
+  if (labels.length) {
+    await db.labelOnItem.createMany({
+      data: labels.map(l => ({ itemId, labelId: l.id })),
+      skipDuplicates: true,
+    });
+  }
+}
+
 export async function GET() {
   await requireAuth();
   const items = await db.item.findMany({
@@ -56,6 +73,7 @@ const createSchema = z.object({
   pricePaid: z.number().nullable().optional(),
   priceUnit: z.string().nullable().optional(),
   notes: z.string().nullable().optional(),
+  tags: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
 });
 
 export async function POST(req: Request) {
@@ -84,11 +102,15 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
       select: PANTRY_SELECT,
     });
 
+    if (data.tags?.length) await syncTags(item.id, data.tags);
+
     await db.auditEvent.create({
       data: { action: "pantry.create", entityId: item.id, actorId: session.user.id, payload: { name: item.name } },
     });
 
-    return NextResponse.json(serialize(item), { status: 201 });
+    // Re-fetch with labels
+    const full = await db.item.findUniqueOrThrow({ where: { id: item.id }, select: PANTRY_SELECT });
+    return NextResponse.json(serialize(full), { status: 201 });
   } catch (err) {
     if (err instanceof z.ZodError) return NextResponse.json({ error: "Invalid input" }, { status: 400 });
     if (err instanceof Error && err.message === "Unauthorized") return NextResponse.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
diff --git a/src/components/pantry/pantry-client.tsx b/src/components/pantry/pantry-client.tsx
index 0daec43..79000d6 100644
--- a/src/components/pantry/pantry-client.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pantry/pantry-client.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export type PantryItem = {
   pricePaid: number | null;
   priceUnit: string | null;
   notes: string | null;
+  tags: string[];
 };
 
 export type LocationOption = { id: string; name: string; path: string | null };
@@ -71,6 +72,13 @@ function ItemRow({ item, locations, plants, onRefresh }: {
           {item.storedAt && <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Stored {new Date(item.storedAt).toLocaleDateString()}</span>}
           {item.bestBefore && <ExpiryBadge date={item.bestBefore} />}
         </div>
+        {item.tags?.length > 0 && (
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mt-1">
+            {item.tags.map(tag => (
+              <span key={tag} className="text-xs bg-primary/10 text-primary px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full">{tag}</span>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
         {item.notes && <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5 italic">{item.notes}</p>}
       </div>
       <div className="flex items-center gap-1 shrink-0">
diff --git a/src/components/pantry/pantry-item-dialog.tsx b/src/components/pantry/pantry-item-dialog.tsx
index a1bd898..781f8eb 100644
--- a/src/components/pantry/pantry-item-dialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pantry/pantry-item-dialog.tsx
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ type CatalogData = {
   suggestions: Suggestion[];
   categories: string[];
   subcategories: { category: string; subcategory: string }[];
+  labels: string[];
 };
 
 type Form = {
@@ -74,7 +75,12 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
   const [nameSuggestions, setNameSuggestions] = useState<Suggestion[]>([]);
   const [showDropdown, setShowDropdown] = useState(false);
   const [autofillBanner, setAutofillBanner] = useState<Suggestion | null>(null);
+  const [tags, setTags] = useState<string[]>(item?.tags ?? []);
+  const [tagInput, setTagInput] = useState("");
+  const [tagSuggestions, setTagSuggestions] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [showTagDropdown, setShowTagDropdown] = useState(false);
   const nameRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  const tagInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const debounceRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
 
   const blankForm = (): Form => ({
@@ -100,6 +106,35 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
     setForm(f => ({ ...f, [key]: val }));
   }
 
+  function addTag(name: string) {
+    const t = name.trim();
+    if (!t || tags.includes(t)) return;
+    setTags(prev => [...prev, t]);
+    setTagInput("");
+    setShowTagDropdown(false);
+  }
+
+  function removeTag(name: string) {
+    setTags(prev => prev.filter(t => t !== name));
+  }
+
+  function handleTagKeyDown(e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
+    if ((e.key === "Enter" || e.key === ",") && tagInput.trim()) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      addTag(tagInput);
+    } else if (e.key === "Backspace" && !tagInput && tags.length) {
+      removeTag(tags[tags.length - 1]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Reset tag state when dialog opens/closes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (open) {
+      setTags(item?.tags ?? []);
+      setTagInput("");
+    }
+  }, [open]);
+
   // Load catalog on open (for name autocomplete suggestions)
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!open) return;
@@ -109,6 +144,15 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
       .catch(() => {});
   }, [open]);
 
+  // Tag autocomplete from catalog labels
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const q = tagInput.trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (!q || !catalog?.labels) { setTagSuggestions([]); setShowTagDropdown(false); return; }
+    const matches = catalog.labels.filter(l => l.toLowerCase().includes(q) && !tags.includes(l));
+    setTagSuggestions(matches.slice(0, 6));
+    setShowTagDropdown(matches.length > 0 || q.length > 0);
+  }, [tagInput, catalog, tags]);
+
   // Debounced name search for autocomplete
   function handleNameChange(val: string) {
     set("name", val);
@@ -186,6 +230,7 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
         priceUnit: form.priceUnit || null,
         notes: form.notes.trim() || null,
         kind: "CONSUMABLE",
+        tags,
       };
       const res = await fetch(item ? `/api/pantry/${item.id}` : "/api/pantry", {
         method: item ? "PATCH" : "POST",
@@ -196,6 +241,8 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
       setOpen(false);
       setForm(blankForm());
       setAutofillBanner(null);
+      setTags([]);
+      setTagInput("");
       onSuccess();
     } catch (err) {
       setError(String(err).replace("Error: ", ""));
@@ -383,6 +430,49 @@ export function PantryItemDialog({ item, locations, plants, onSuccess }: Props)
               <textarea className={inputCls} rows={2} value={form.notes} onChange={e => set("notes", e.target.value)} placeholder="Any notes…" />
             </div>
 
+            {/* Tags — multi-label, e.g. "Pre-cooked" + "Poultry" */}
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label>Tags</Label>
+              <div className={`${inputCls} flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 min-h-[40px] cursor-text`} onClick={() => tagInputRef.current?.focus()}>
+                {tags.map(tag => (
+                  <span key={tag} className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-primary/10 text-primary text-xs px-2 py-0.5">
+                    {tag}
+                    <button type="button" onClick={e => { e.stopPropagation(); removeTag(tag); }} className="hover:text-destructive">
+                      <X className="h-3 w-3" />
+                    </button>
+                  </span>
+                ))}
+                <div className="relative flex-1 min-w-[120px]">
+                  <input
+                    ref={tagInputRef}
+                    className="w-full bg-transparent text-sm outline-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
+                    placeholder={tags.length ? "" : "e.g. Pre-cooked, Poultry…"}
+                    value={tagInput}
+                    onChange={e => setTagInput(e.target.value)}
+                    onKeyDown={handleTagKeyDown}
+                    onBlur={() => setTimeout(() => setShowTagDropdown(false), 150)}
+                  />
+                  {showTagDropdown && (
+                    <div className="absolute z-50 left-0 top-full mt-1 bg-popover border rounded-md shadow-md overflow-hidden min-w-[160px]">
+                      {tagSuggestions.map(s => (
+                        <button key={s} type="button" onMouseDown={() => addTag(s)}
+                          className="w-full text-left px-3 py-2 text-sm hover:bg-accent">
+                          {s}
+                        </button>
+                      ))}
+                      {tagInput.trim() && !tagSuggestions.some(s => s.toLowerCase() === tagInput.trim().toLowerCase()) && (
+                        <button type="button" onMouseDown={() => addTag(tagInput)}
+                          className="w-full text-left px-3 py-2 text-sm hover:bg-accent flex items-center gap-2 text-primary border-t">
+                          <Plus className="h-3.5 w-3.5" /> Add &ldquo;{tagInput.trim()}&rdquo;
+                        </button>
+                      )}
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Press Enter or comma to add. Tag things multiple ways, like &ldquo;Pre-cooked&rdquo; and &ldquo;Poultry&rdquo;.</p>
+            </div>
+
             {error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p>}
 
             <DialogFooter>
diff --git a/src/lib/changelog.ts b/src/lib/changelog.ts
index 9914388..f113092 100644
--- a/src/lib/changelog.ts
+++ b/src/lib/changelog.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ export type ChangelogEntry = {
 };
 
 export const CHANGELOG: ChangelogEntry[] = [
+  {
+    version: "0.20.0",
+    date: "2026-06-29",
+    changes: [
+      "Pantry: items can now have multiple tags — type them in the new Tags field when adding or editing an item (press Enter or comma to add each one, like \"Pre-cooked\" and \"Poultry\"). Tags show up as small chips on each item row. Previously-used tags autocomplete as you type.",
+    ],
+  },
   {
     version: "0.19.2",
     date: "2026-06-29",
diff --git a/src/lib/version.ts b/src/lib/version.ts
index 7abd81f..43eea40 100644
--- a/src/lib/version.ts
+++ b/src/lib/version.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 // Bump on every user-visible release. Changelog entries live in `src/lib/changelog.ts`.
-export const APP_VERSION = "0.19.2";
+export const APP_VERSION = "0.20.0";