Everyone may have heard on the news that the FDA is making changes to the nutrition label. The FDA is proposing two rules to help consumers.
The first rule states the need for a design change on the label. It will make the label easier to read and it will reflect a change in nutrition recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which have been published and updated three times since the first labeling law was enacted.
In the proposed first rule
- Added sugars will be distinguished from naturally occurring sugars. The FDA is trying to end the confusion on how much sugar was added to the package versus how much is naturally found in a food.
- Daily values are updated for sodium, fiber, and Vitamin D to reflect current research and health guidelines.
- Potassium and Vitamin D are now required on the label because they are nutrients of concern.
- Total fat, saturated fat, and trans fat are required but calories from fat will be removed because the type of fat is more important than the total amount of fat.
- Calories and serving sizes are more prominent to help address public health concerns today such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular.
- The percent of daily value will be more prominent to help consumers understand how a food fits into their total diet.
The second proposed rule is to update the serving size requirements along with the new labeling requirements for certain package sizes.
- If there is a drink or package that is typically eaten in one setting, the label will reflect that.
- Larger packages that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings will have dual column labels to indicate both per serving and per package calories and nutrient information.
The FDA’s goal is to expand and highlight the information they most need when making food choices. The goal is to make people aware of what they are eating and give them tools to make healthy dietary choices throughout the day.
A comparison between the current and new label are shown below. The current label is shown first with the proposed new label below. What do you think about the changes? Will it be easier for the consumer to make healthy choices? Is it easier to read and understand? We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions!
-Submitted by Jessica Claussen, SDSU Dietetic Student
