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, stated that the guidance regarding dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed postponement of the updated Nutritional Facts label.” Initially, the FDA set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for implementing the new label. However, last June, the agency decided to delay this until 2020 and 2021, as some manufacturers and trade associations expressed concerns about meeting the deadline prior to the mandatory GMO ingredient labeling.
With the latest guidance from the FDA now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears realistic and attainable. Although Gottlieb did not address the compliance deadline last week, he mentioned that a final rule would be published this spring. Furthermore, he indicated that the FDA would be unveiling 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 changes and are incorporating the new Nutritional Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to comply with 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 modifications, such as recalibrated serving sizes, clearer calorie displays per serving, and the inclusion of information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, amounts of calcium citrate D3, vitamin D, and potassium per serving will also be provided. It is important to note that the Nutritional Facts label has not seen an update in nearly 20 years.