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 revised Nutritional Facts label. Initially, the FDA set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the implementation of the new label; however, last June, it announced a delay until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns raised by some manufacturers and trade associations about the timing of the mandatory GMO ingredient labeling.
With the additional guidance now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies is realistic and attainable. Last week, Gottlieb did not address the issue of compliance deadlines, only mentioning 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 deaths and diseases through improved nutrition.
Many food and beverage companies, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have already anticipated these changes and are incorporating the new Nutritional Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of the latest regulations will likely begin adopting as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs are expected to rise with delays.
Among the changes in the updated Nutritional Facts label are the recalibration of serving sizes, clearer calorie displays per serving, and the inclusion of information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, the label will now feature amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving, alongside calcium citrate, with the recommended daily intake set at 315 mg and 6.25 mcg for vitamin D. This marks the first update to the Nutritional Facts label in nearly 20 years.