It is hardly a surprise - changes to Nutrition Labels have been anticipated for some time - but the FDA has officially sent proposals to the White House for review as of late February. Details are now pouring out regarding some specifics contained in the proposals and we are now in the early stages of the 90 day period where public comment on the proposals is accepted through the Federal Register. Among the proposed changes that caught our eye, requiring information about the amount of “added sugars” in food products is perhaps the most striking as more and more studies are released on how exactly millennials are making their purchasing choices in the grocery aisle. We should be hearing much more on these developments towards the end of May and into June, but as of yet we have not seen much - if any - public backlash to the proposals.
"For 20 years, consumers have come to rely on the iconic nutrition label to help them make healthier food choices," said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. "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."
One of the points proposed:
Require information about the amount of "added sugars" in a food product. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that intake of added sugar is too high in the U.S. population and should be reduced. The FDA proposes to include “added sugars” on the label to help consumers know how much sugar has been added to the product.
"By revamping the Nutrition Facts label, FDA wants to make it easier than ever for consumers to make better informed food choices that will support a healthy diet," said Michael Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine. "To help address obesity, one of the most important public health problems facing our country, the proposed label would drive attention to calories and serving sizes."
