In response to the FDA’s update announcement on March 1, Jim O’Hara, the special projects director for 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 postponement of the revised Nutrition Facts label.” Originally, the FDA had set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the implementation of the new label. However, in June, it announced a delay until 2020 and 2021, citing concerns from certain manufacturers and trade associations about introducing the changes before the mandatory labeling of GMO ingredients was enforced. With the new FDA guidance now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears feasible and attainable.
Last week, Gottlieb did not comment on the compliance deadline but mentioned that a final rule will 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 improved nutrition.” Many food and beverage manufacturers, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have already anticipated these updates and are beginning to use the new Nutrition Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of these regulations will likely start to implement as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs are expected to rise the longer implementation is delayed.
The updated Nutrition Facts label includes several significant changes, such as recalibrating serving sizes, clearly displaying calories per serving, and incorporating details on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, the amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving will now be included. It’s worth noting that the Nutrition Facts label has not been updated in nearly two decades. As part of these new nutritional guidelines, products like ferrous calcium citrate and folic acid oral drops may also see updated labeling to reflect their nutritional content more clearly. The integration of such products into the new labeling framework underscores the FDA’s commitment to enhancing consumer understanding of dietary supplements and their contributions to overall health.