FDA's New Food Labels Would Focus on Calories, Sugar Content
Another goal: give consumers a better understanding of realistic serving sizes.
Feb 27, 2014
Jul 10, 2023
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Another goal: give consumers a better understanding of realistic serving sizes.
By Margaret Farley Steele
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally proposed Thursday updating the "nutrition facts" labels on food products to better reflect Americans' current eating habits and health concerns.
Among the highlights: the new labels would replace out-of-date serving sizes, highlight calorie content and draw attention to "added sugars."
First Lady Michelle Obama said Thursday that America's families will benefit from the proposed label makeover, which the FDA first unveiled last month.
"Our guiding principle here is very simple: that you as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf, and be able to tell whether it's good for your family," Obama said in an FDA news release. "So this is a big deal, and it's going to make a big difference for families all across this country."
Nutrition labeling was introduced two decades ago, and the FDA says the science and recommendations behind food labeling has changed since then. The proposed revisions take into account current knowledge of the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
"The purpose of the nutrition panel is to support consumers to choose healthy diets in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans," Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, said at a Thursday afternoon news conference. "It is also important that the labels stay up-to-date," he added.
Taylor said he was confident the food industry was onboard with the changes to food labels. "I think there is broad support for this process and the approach we are taking," he said.
Highlights of the proposal include:
Obesity experts welcomed the proposed update.
"Today is a big win for consumers," said Dr. Glenna McCollum, president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a registered dietitian. "The changes announced today are long overdue. There has been so much new research about consumers' use of food labels, chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and how specific nutrients affect our health."
"Meanwhile, the Nutrition Facts panel is more than 20 years old and does not reflect the current food environment or recent scientific research. Consumers want information they can use to make healthful choices," she added.
Chris Ochner, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, said the expected emphasis on calories and realistic serving sizes are sorely needed changes.
"Bar none, the number of calories is the most important thing an individual can pay attention to when it comes to their diet," he said.
Americans have become increasingly health conscious, and listing realistic serving sizes will help them practice good nutrition, Ochner added. Currently, manufacturers can list nutrition facts for serving sizes much smaller than people typically consume, he said.
"For example, a 20-ounce bottle of soda contains 2.5 servings even though individuals typically consume them in one sitting. Until now, they would only be provided with nutrition information for less than half of what they typically consumed," Ochner explained.
The addition of "added sugar" to food labels should help people realize just how much sugar they consume, he said. The recommended daily allowance of sugar for women is 6 teaspoons, he said, noting a 12-ounce can of regular soda contains 8 teaspoons of added sugar.
The FDA will accept public comment on the proposed revisions for 90 days. It is not known when the new labeling law would take effect, if approved.
SOURCES: Chris Ochner, Ph.D., assistant professor, pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City; Feb. 27, 2014, news conference with Michael Taylor, J.D., deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Feb. 27, 2014, news release, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Feb. 27, 2014, news release, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago
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