The US Food and Drug Administration has released a long-awaited proposal requiring food manufacturers to display some nutritional facts on the front of product packaging, rather than solely on the back. The move aims to promote healthier choices among Americans.
According to Dr. Cecil Bennett, a primary care physician in Georgia, an increasing rate of patients developing high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes can be attributed to the foods they consume. To address this issue, the FDA proposes adding nutrition labels to front-of-packaging, focusing on three main areas: sodium content, sugar content, and saturated fat levels.
The label would provide a clear ranking system – high (above 20% daily value), medium (6-19%), or low (5% or less) – based on these factors. Dr. Bennett notes that this initiative provides consumers with valuable information about the nutritional content of their food choices. Diego Rose, nutrition program director at Tulane University, explains that the ranking system would help Americans make informed decisions about which products are healthier.
The proposal will be reviewed by the Trump administration, and large companies earning over $10 million/year will have three years to comply. Smaller companies will have an additional year.
Source: https://local12.com/news/nation-world/fda-releases-proposal-for-front-label-nutrition-facts-on-food-packaging-high-cholesterol-obesity-diabetes-food-and-drug-administration-labels-healthy-sodium-content-large-food-companies