The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new nutrition labels for food products that aim to help consumers make healthier choices. The labels, which would be displayed on the front of packaged goods, would provide clear information on sugar, fat, and salt levels, allowing consumers to quickly identify unhealthy options.
According to the FDA, nearly 60% of American adults suffer from chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, which are linked to excessive sugar, salt, and saturated fat consumption. The new labels would rank the contents of these nutrients as “high,” “medium,” or “low” to indicate whether they exceed or fall short of recommended daily values.
The proposal follows three years of research by agency scientists, who considered front-of-package labels used in other countries. Focus groups with 10,000 people tested the proposed designs, which scored highest for ease of comprehension. Food companies would have up to four years to comply with the rules.
While some experts welcomed the move, others expressed disappointment that the new labels did not convey more forceful warnings about unhealthy nutrients. The FDA’s proposal has also been met with criticism from food and beverage companies, who claim it lacks important information such as calorie count.
The new front-of-package rules complement other recent efforts by the FDA to improve eating habits. Last month, the agency updated the definition of “healthy” for labeling on foods, while in August, it issued voluntary guidelines aimed at reducing sodium in processed goods.
The proposal has sparked debate among experts and lawmakers. Some argue that mandatory labels may encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products with healthier ingredients, while others worry about unintended consequences, such as companies tweaking products to avoid the “high” label without making them healthier overall.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/health/fda-food-labels-sugar-fat-salt.html