FDA proposes to put nutrition labels on the front of food packages |


FDA proposes to put nutrition labels on the front of food packages
The FDA has proposed new front-of-package nutritional labels to help consumers make healthier choices by providing information on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. This initiative aims to combat chronic diseases linked to diet, such as heart disease and diabetes, in line with the White House’s strategy to reduce diet-related ailments by 2030.

The US Food and Drug Administration proposed food companies to provide nutritional information on the front-of-package (FOP) for most packaged foods. The latest health push under the outgoing Biden administration is to help consumers make healthier choices. “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 in a statement on Tuesday.
If the proposal FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the ‘Nutrition Info box,’ is finalized, it would give consumers information about food’s saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content – three nutrients directly linked with chronic diseases when consumed in excess.
In the US, chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading cause of disability and death. About 60% of Americans have at least one chronic disease and are costing the nation $4.5 trillion in annual health care. Research indicates that the excess consumption of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, is the major contributor to this health crisis. Ultra-processed foods contain high levels of these nutrients, and providing a Nutrition Info box will help consumers identify what’s healthy easily.
“The science on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars is clear. 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,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. said in a release.
The Nutrition Info box proposal is informed by a substantial body of research conducted by the FDA, based on a scientific literature review, consumer focus groups, and a peer-reviewed experimental study.
The FDA studied nearly 10,000 U.S. adults in 2023, in an experimental study to find out about their response to three different types of FOP labels. The study was conducted to identify which FOP schemes helped the participants understand the nutritional value of the label more quickly and accurately. The study showed that the black-and-white Nutrition Info scheme with the percent Daily Value helped the consumers to identify healthier food options.
“Food should be a vehicle for wellness, not a contributor to chronic disease. In addition to our goal of providing information to consumers, it’s possible we’ll see manufacturers reformulate products to be healthier in response to front-of-package nutrition labeling. Together, we hope the FDA’s efforts, alongside those of our federal partners, will start stemming the tide of the chronic disease crisis in our country,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones said.

“FSSAI issues new rules for food packaging to prevent misleading of consumers”

This proposal is part of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.


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