The Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a proposed rule that would require nutrition labels on the front of most packaged foods and beverages sold in the United States.
The new “at-a-glance” labels, also called the Nutrition Info box, would prominently display key details about the amount of sugar, salt and fat in the product — nutrients that have been linked to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
“The science on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars is clear,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. “Nearly everyone knows or cares for someone with a chronic disease that is due, in part, to the food we eat. It is time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go. Adding front-of-package nutrition labeling to most packaged foods would do that. We are fully committed to pulling all the levers available to the FDA to make nutrition information readily accessible as part of our efforts to promote public health.”
The proposed Nutrition Info box would complement the Nutrition Facts label that is already required on most packaged food, the FDA said.
The Nutrition Info box would offer a quick, easy-to-understand guide on the front of food packages, using simple “Low,” “Med,” or “High” labels to indicate the relative amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars in each serving. While calories would not be included in the Nutrition Info box, a manufacturer could voluntarily include a calorie statement on the front of the package.
By placing this information front and center, the FDA hopes to empower consumers to make more informed choices and promote healthier eating habits.
“Chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the leading cause of disability and death in the U.S.,” the FDA said in a statement. “A large body of research indicates that a major contributor to this problem is excess consumption of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. There is a proliferation of foods in the food supply that are considered ultra processed, which often contain high levels of these nutrients. The Nutrition Info box is focused on providing accessible information to help consumers quickly and easily identify how foods can be part of a healthy diet.”
If the proposal is finalized, it could significantly reshape the way food products are marketed and consumed in the U.S., helping to reduce the risks of diet-related diseases across the population.
“This proposal plays a key role in the agency’s nutrition priorities, which are part of a government-wide effort in combatting the nation’s chronic disease crisis,” the FDA said.
You can share your thoughts on the proposal until May 16, and if it moves forward, major food manufacturers could start using the new labels within the next three years.