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 postponement of the updated Nutritional Facts label.” The FDA had originally set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the new label’s implementation but announced last June that it would delay this until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns raised by some manufacturers and trade associations regarding the timing of mandatory GMO ingredient labeling. With the additional FDA guidance now available, O’Hara expressed 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, only mentioning that a final rule would be released this spring. He also indicated that the FDA would unveil a nutrition strategy aimed at “reducing preventable death and disease through better nutrition” in the upcoming weeks. Many food and beverage companies, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have anticipated these changes and are already incorporating the new Nutritional Facts labels on their products. Companies that wish to stay ahead of the new regulations are likely to implement as much of the updated guidance as possible, as costs will increase the longer they wait.
The revised Nutritional Facts label introduces several significant changes, including recalibrated serving sizes, clearer calorie displays per serving, and information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Furthermore, amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving will be included. It is noteworthy that the Nutritional Facts label has not been updated in nearly two decades. For those interested in their health, questions like “can you take calcium citrate with magnesium?” are also becoming more common as consumers become increasingly aware of nutritional information and its impact on well-being.