FDA Campaign Helps Consumers Use New Nutrition Facts Label

The FDA has launched an initiative to help consumers use the new Nutrition Facts label that appears on packaged foods to maintain healthy dietary practices. The “What’s In It For You?” campaign aims to reach the general public and consumers who are at increased risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases, such as obesity.

The new campaign includes videos and education materials of food products, and is a part of the FDA’s multi-year Nutrition Innovative Strategy designed to empower consumers with information about healthy food choices and to facilitate industry innovation toward healthier foods. Aspects of the campaign have been designed specifically for health care professionals, teachers, dietitians, and community leaders.

This is the first redesign of the Nutrition Facts label in more than 20 years based on updated scientific information, such as the link between diet and chronic diseases. In addition, serving sizes and calorie counts have been updated to reflect the amount of food and beverages people eat and drink in recent years.

Other new changes include new required listings for added sugars, vitamin D, and potassium, and a dual column version of the label for food packages that contain 2-3 servings that can be reasonably consumed at a time. The dual column label includes a column with the nutritional label related to a single serving and a column that lists nutritional facts for the contents of the entire package, according to the FDA.

“This campaign highlights that the new Nutrition Facts label has been designed to assist consumers in making better informed food choices,” said Susan Mayne, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, in a press release. “If a consumer wants to know how many calories there are in a serving, that information is now highlighted. If a consumer wants to choose a food with more vitamin D or less added sugars, that information is now right there on the label.”

REFERENCE

FDA launches new campaign to help consumers use the new nutrition facts label [news release]. Silver Spring, MD; FDA: March 11, 2020.https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-launches-new-campaign-help-consumers-use-new-nutrition-facts-label?utm_campaign=031120_PR_FDA%20Launches%20Campaign%20to%20Help%20Consumers%20Use%20New%20Nutrition%20Facts%20Label&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua. Accessed April 3, 2020.