FDA proposes new nutrition labeling for front of packages to protect public health

To help combat the nation’s chronic disease crisis, the FDA has announced a proposal for a rule that would require front-of-package labeling for nutritional information.

If finalized, the proposed rule would give consumers readily visible information about a food’s saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content —three nutrients directly linked to public health and safety.

The proposed nutrition labeling, 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.

According to the FDA, chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the leading cause of disability and death in the United States. With 60 percent of Americans having at least one chronic disease, such diseases are also the leading drivers of the nation’s $4.5 trillion in annual health care costs. 

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.

“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 proposed Nutrition Info Box has been designed using a substantial body of research conducted by the FDA, including a scientific literature review, consumer focus groups and a peer-reviewed experimental study. 

In 2023, the FDA conducted the study of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to further explore consumer responses to three different types of front-of-package labels. The purpose of the experimental study was to identify which label designs 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 design 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.”

The proposed Nutrition Info box is part of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.

According to FDA officials, these efforts can help consumers more easily identify foods recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and may assist them in reducing their consumption of certain nutrients that can be found in foods that are commonly considered ultra-processed.

The proposed rule, if finalized, would require food manufacturers to add a Nutrition Info Box to most packaged food products three years after the final rule’s effective date for businesses with $10 million or more in annual food sales and four years after the final rule’s effective date for businesses with less than $10 million in annual food sales.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has long advocated for front-of-package nutrition labeling, starting with a Citizen Petition to FDA in 2006. CSPI, the Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators, and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists filed an updated petition in 2022 calling for mandatory, interpretive, nutrient-specific front-of-package nutrition labels of the very type proposed by FDA today. 

“However, the petition noted that the scientific literature generally favors nutrient warnings (i.e., “High In” labels) over traffic light labels for reducing selection or purchasing of foods high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat. Either, however, is a vast improvement on the status quo,” according to a statement by the center.

“The incoming administration has the opportunity to finalize this important rulemaking and follow through on commitments to stand up to Big Food. When finalizing the policy, we hope FDA will consider the growing body of international evidence supporting the ‘High In’ style labels adopted by our neighbors to the North and South. We hope to see FDA continue to push forward with evidence-based public health protections, including mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling.”

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted electronically to http://www.regulations.gov by May 16, 2025.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/fda-proposes-new-nutrition-labeling-for-front-of-packages-to-protect-public-health/