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I love a good makeover. The latest renovation headlines have to do with the FDA’s nutrition labeling guidelines.
First Lady Michelle Obama made an announcement today that will unveil proposals to update the current food label which has been around since the 1990’s. These new proposals reflect “reality” – or how people really eat. The major proposed highlights include the following:
Bold calorie count. These bold numbers stare at you in the face. There is no ignoring their presence.
A more realistic serving size. The original serving size on the current label reflect eating habits from the 70’s and 80’s and thus do not serve our current appetites. We eat more than we used to. For example, the current serving size for ice cream is ½ cup. The new guidelines propose a serving size as one cup. For example, a ½ cup serving of Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream has 230 calories. The proposed new serving size will contain 460 calories. Way to take the fun out of it, FDA!*
The other significant addition is the inclusion of “added sugars” to the label. The current label reflects sugars occurring both naturally and those added by the manufacturer. On the average, 16% of dietary sugars come from those added during the food manufacturing process. Now we will be able to see the amount of sugar that the manufacturer has chosen to add to the product.
Updated serving size. The current guidelines state the number of calories per serving, a rather ambiguous term. The proposed changes will state the number of calories in a more relatable quantity. Calories per cup, for example is easier to visualize.
The calories from fat category will be deleted while the total, saturated and trans fat values will stay. Thanks to nutrition research, we now know that the type of fat is more important than total fat content with respect to heart disease and cholesterol values.
In terms of nutrient values, the proposed guidelines advocate adding the Vitamin D and potassium to the label while the inclusion of Vitamins A and C can be voluntary. According to the FDA, Vitamin D and potassium are the new “nutrients of public health significance.” The latest nutrition science suggests that the typical American diet is lacking in both Vitamin D and potassium. Vitamin D is important for bone health and a potassium deficiency is related to high blood pressure. The data suggest that we are not lacking in Vitamins A and C and thus their inclusion is voluntary.
Currently, there are 700,000 products with a food label in this country. It is estimated that over 50% of consumers use these labels in their decision-making process to purchase products. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, although stating that they want to work with the administration in making the guidelines easier to follow, object to the FDA proposal to add the category for “added sugars.” Sources for added sugar in the American diet are include soda, energy/sports drinks, grain-based desserts, sugar sweetened fruit drinks and dairy-based desserts and candy. Since the obesity/sugar relationship has been clearly identified, consumers will better be able to clearly see the source of sugar from the label.
According to the FDA, the goal of the updated label is not to tell people what to eat, but to expand and highlight the most important nutrition information about the product so that an informed choice can be made.
The guidelines are just proposals; there is a 90-day window in which the public can comment and make suggestions. The administration will review all feedback and make a final recommendation. Once the final recommendation is made, food manufacturers have two years to make the required changes. The food industry can lobby Congress for more studies to be made or argue that this will ultimately be an economic issue i.e. increased food prices or job losses. These arguments will delay any final requirements to the future.
My sense is that this will not happen. If anything, these proposed changes will encourage food manufacturers to create better products. And all this attention seems to be paying off. According to the CDC, there has been a 43% decline of obesity rates in children ages 2-5.
If you are interested, here is the link to post your thoughts to the FDA.
*this comment is provided for good humor. Honestly, there is nothing like a dose of reality to take the fun out of overeating. Reality is just what we need right now. Reality and a good walk!
Here are the food labels – the current and two proposed updated versions. What is your vote?
Source: FDA