The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested on Tuesday that food manufacturers place nutrition labels on the front of their packaging as part of a broader initiative, backed by the outgoing Biden administration, to encourage healthier eating habits.
Why the FDA is focusing on front-of-package labels
The agency’s focus on nutrition is a key component of a larger government effort to tackle the country’s chronic health issues, including conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
If approved, the proposal would ensure that key details about a product’s saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars appear prominently on the front, with clear indicators labeling them as “low,” “medium,” or “high,” helping consumers understand their choices better.
In its draft guidelines from October, the World Health Organization recommended that packaged foods and beverages include clear and simple nutritional details on the front of their labels.
Global examples of nutrition labeling
Nations like Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, and Italy have already implemented front-of-package labeling, requiring it by law or offering it as a voluntary option for businesses.
“Almost everyone has a friend or family member dealing with a chronic illness that’s partly caused by what we eat. It’s time to make it simpler for people to look, pick, and move on,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.
If approved, the proposed rule is expected to affect companies such as PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Hershey.“Major food companies won’t be thrilled with this proposal, but it’s long overdue for them to take responsibility for transparent marketing and for helping improve the U.S. food supply,” said Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Under the rule, most products would need to feature a “nutrition info box” within three years of the rule’s finalization for companies earning $10 million or more annually from food sales. Businesses with less than $10 million in annual sales would have an additional year to comply.
How the proposed rule will affect food companies
“Manufacturers might also change their products to reduce saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, which would make them healthier,” said Rebecca Buckner, an FDA executive, during a media call.
The FDA’s proposal follows a Senate committee hearing over a month ago, where FDA Commissioner Robert Califf faced tough questions from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders about the country’s obesity crisis and the agency’s oversight of the food and beverage industry.
“The proposed rule from the FDA does not do enough to alert Americans to the risks of consuming these unhealthy products,” Sanders said in a statement.
He mentioned that he plans to reintroduce legislation aimed at requiring the food and beverage industry to include clear warning labels on their products. This legislation would also prohibit junk food advertising directed at children.
The hearing took place shortly after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of packaged foods, to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
Nutrition labelling in the EU vs. the United States
When you pick up a box of cookies in the European Union, the label might feel like it’s giving you a full confession. Bold warning symbols, traffic-light colors, and clear numbers make it nearly impossible to miss how much sugar or saturated fat is inside. In countries like France or Belgium, for instance, the Nutri-Score system ranks products with grades from A to E, with A being the healthier option. It’s like a report card for your snacks—straightforward, colorful, and hard to ignore.
Now, compare that to a similar box of cookies in the United States. The nutrition facts are typically tucked away on the back, in a black-and-white grid, requiring a bit of detective work to decode. Sure, the information is there, but it doesn’t exactly jump out at you.
If the FDA’s proposal moves forward, the U.S. might finally catch up, putting key details like sugar and sodium levels front and center. Think of it as giving American consumers the same “at-a-glance” advantage their European neighbors have enjoyed for years—because no one should need a magnifying glass to figure out what’s in their favorite treats.