FDA PROPOSES MANDATORY FRONT-OF-PACKAGE
NUTRITION LABELING RULE
Washington D.C., (Jan 14, 2025) - Following a growing global trend, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule requiring front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels on most packaged foods. FDA states, as part of a whole-of-government approach, the agency broadly seeks to help reduce the burden of diet-related chronic diseases. This initiative would provide a compact information box on the front of the package and aims to help consumers make healthier food choices in a way that allows them to compare different products quickly. This rule, if finalized, would highlight when foods contain high levels of nutrients that are commonly overconsumed and are linked to adverse health outcomes. The rule proposes to amend some nutrient content claim regulations as well.
Summary:
The proposed FOP label, referred to as the Nutrition Info box, would provide clear, interpretive information about levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars in a single serving of the food. Using descriptive terms such as “Low,” “Med,” and “High,” along with percentages of daily value (%DV), the labels will enable consumers to easily interpret the amount of major nutrients of concern identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and to compare these across products at the point of purchase.
The ranges corresponding to “Low,” “Med,” and “High” are as follows, and based on the percent daily value as shown on the nutrition facts panel:
- Low: 5% DV or less
- Med: 6% to 19% DV
- High: 20% DV or more
Examples of the proposed standard Nutrition Info box, and a format appropriate for small to medium sized packages are shown below. The box would be required to appear in the top third of the product label’s Principal Display Panel, although the exact location is not specified. FDA includes examples of as-packaged and aggregate food product labels.
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