FDA Proposes Sweeping Changes To 20-Year-Old Nutrition Facts Label

By Laurel Maloy, contributing writer, Food Online

Consumers can look forward to nutrition labels that do not require a calculator or reading glasses to decipher. The FDA’s proposals for new Nutrition Fact labels will provide clearer and more accurate nutritional information at a glance

The news that the FDA has proposed sweeping changes to the Nutrition Facts label currently in use is being met with broad smiles and happy-dances. Consumers, consumer advocate groups, and nutritionists are particularly pleased by the proposed changes.

As a nation struggling with obesity, it has become vitally important to provide realistic information that even a child can understand. No, the average 4-year-old child may not be able to read the label or understand nutrition, but by the time they begin elementary school, they are being introduced to the concept of eating healthy. The current labeling is perceived as confusing and misleading by the average adult consumer. According to the New York Post, Michelle Obama, a driving force for this change says, “Our guiding principle here is very simple, that you as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf and be able to tell whether it’s good for your family.”

Good nutrition has come to the forefront. The focus now is on serving size and calories, the combination of which have been glaringly out of whack. One example is ice cream; the standard serving size is listed universally, across all brands, as one half of a cup. That is approximately one scoop, but who eats just one four ounce scoop? The standard serving size for ice cream will increase, as will a great many serving sizes, while others will decrease to reflect what is most commonly consumed.

Decreasing portion sizes, according to the USDA on ChooseMyPlate.gov, is the easiest way to control dietary intake. The FDA’s new labeling will offer both the realistic serving size and calories per serving in a bold, large font at the top of the label. According to the FDA’s Press Release, “By law, serving sizes must be based on what people actually eat, not on what people “should” be eating.” This aspect will most likely not change regardless of the label that is ultimately decided upon. There is a 90-day period being allowed by the FDA for input by all concerned before moving forward.

There are currently a number of proposed label designs, though a few of the changes will be universal. You will not see Calories from Fat listed in the calories block, as research has shown the type of fat is more important than the amount of fat. Added Sugars will be a welcome addition to the new label, as it distinguishes between those sugars occurring naturally and those that do not. David Kessler, the FDA commissioner when the first Nutrition Facts labels were implemented in the 1990s, says, “No food company wants products to look bad,” so he expects the focus on added sugars will  have a “demonstrative public health benefit.” He expects companies will adjust recipes to get those numbers down, just as they did with the requirement to include trans fat on labels in 2006.This is a win-win for the fight against obesity.

FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, states, “For 20 years, consumers have come to rely on the iconic nutrition label to help them make healthier food choices. To remain relevant, the FDA’s newly proposed Nutrition Facts label incorporates the latest in nutrition science as more has been learned about the connection between what we eat and the development of serious chronic diseases impacting millions of Americans.”

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