In response to the FDA’s update announcement on March 1, Jim O’Hara, the special projects director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, expressed that the guidance concerning dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed delay of the revised Nutritional Facts label.” Originally, the FDA set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the new label’s implementation. However, in June of last year, it announced a postponement to 2020 and 2021 due to some manufacturers and trade associations expressing concerns about the timing, particularly ahead of the mandatory GMO ingredient labeling requirements. With the new FDA guidance now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears to be realistic and attainable.
Last week, Gottlieb did not address the compliance deadline but mentioned that a final rule would be released this spring. He also indicated that the FDA would unveil 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 anticipated these changes and are already incorporating the new Nutritional Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of the latest regulations will likely begin implementing as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs are expected to rise the longer they wait.
The updated Nutritional Facts label introduces several important changes, such as recalibrating serving sizes, more clearly displaying calories per serving, and incorporating information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, it will now include the amounts of vitamin D, potassium, and calcium citrate recommended daily intake per serving. It is noteworthy that the Nutritional Facts label has not undergone an update in nearly 20 years.