Nutrition Label (Wikipedia)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA is taking a bold leap forward in empowering consumers with critical nutrition information. Today, the agency unveiled a groundbreaking proposal to mandate front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels on most packaged foods. This initiative represents a pivotal move in the FDA’s broader mission to tackle the nation’s escalating chronic disease crisis—a priority echoed across the federal government. If approved, this proposal would place vital information directly in consumers’ hands, highlighting the levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars—nutrients closely tied to chronic illnesses when consumed in excess. This marks a transformative moment in the fight for public health.
The proposed FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info box,” provides information on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has “Low,” “Med” or “High” levels of these nutrients. It complements the FDA’s iconic Nutrition Facts label, which gives consumers more detailed information about the nutrients in their food.
Chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the primary cause of death and disability in the United States, affecting 60% of Americans and driving the nation’s $4.5 trillion annual healthcare expenditure. Research strongly suggests that excessive intake of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars significantly contributes to this problem. The prevalence of ultra-processed foods, often high in these nutrients, exacerbates the issue. To combat this, the Nutrition Info box aims to provide accessible information, empowering consumers to easily identify foods that support a healthy diet.
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“The science on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars is clear,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “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 FDA said the proposed Nutrition Info box is informed by a “substantial body of research” that it conducted, including a “scientific literature review, consumer focus groups and a peer-reviewed experimental study.”
In 2023, the FDA conducted an experimental study of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to further explore consumer responses to three different types of FOP labels. The purpose of the experimental study was to identify which FOP schemes enabled participants to make quicker and more accurate assessments of the healthfulness of a product based on the levels of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars displayed. The experimental study showed that the black and white Nutrition Info scheme with the percent Daily Value performed best in helping consumers identify healthier food options.
“Food should be a vehicle for wellness, not a contributor of chronic disease,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones. “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.”
