Food Label Upgrade


Written by Sadie Wirthlin

The FDA is making a change to all food labels. First lady Michelle Obama, who has been a leading figure in the movement, says that revisions will hopefully reach all labels in the next two to three years.

Parts of the label that will be getting a makeover are calories, serving sizes, sugars, nutrients, and even the footnote. Calorie and serving size letters will be larger and in bold, making it easier for consumers to see how much they are eating. The serving size will also fit better to what a person actually eats and will be easier to understand.

The labels will be required to show, not only the amount of sugar in the item, but also the amount of added sugar. This change in particular has been a hot topic among nutrition bodies for years. Many foods contain sugar naturally, but consumers are often blind as to how much sugar has been added by food manufacturers on top of the natural sugar. Overconsumption of sugar has been shown to be a leading factor in obesity.

Nutrients will be prioritized by what Americans need more of, like potassium and Vitamin D. Calcium and iron product content will have to be included, but because deficiencies in both Vitamin and C and A are rare, their content is not required. The Food and Drug Administration have supplied this information.

Government research states that about 77% of American adults look at food labels, and the FDA believes this label revamp will have a major effect on individuals’ nutrition. More than two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and according to FDA Commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf, new labels will give consumers the opportunity to make healthier and more informed choices.

Read more: www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm

Sources: Cnn.com, fda.gov

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