In response to the FDA’s announcement on March 1, Jim O’Hara, the special projects director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stated that the guidance regarding dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed delay of the updated Nutrition Facts label.” Initially, the FDA set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the new label implementation, but in June of last year, it decided to postpone this until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns from various manufacturers and trade associations about meeting the requirements before mandatory GMO ingredient labeling took effect. With the recent availability of further FDA guidance, O’Hara expressed that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears realistic and attainable.
Last week, Gottlieb did not specifically address the compliance deadline but mentioned that a final rule would be released this spring. He also indicated that the FDA would outline a nutrition strategy in the coming weeks aimed at “reducing preventable death and disease through better nutrition.” Many food and beverage companies, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have already anticipated these changes and are adopting the new Nutrition Facts labels on their products. Those companies eager to stay ahead of the latest regulations will likely begin implementing as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs will continue to rise with delays.
The revised Nutrition Facts label introduces several modifications, such as recalculating serving sizes, more prominently displaying calories per serving, and incorporating details on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving will be included. Notably, the Nutrition Facts label has not been updated for nearly 20 years. Among the nutrition products being discussed, liquid calcium & magnesium is gaining attention as companies strive to meet the new standards while improving their offerings. As the deadline approaches, the incorporation of liquid calcium & magnesium into product formulations may help food and beverage manufacturers align with the updated requirements effectively.