While food security, nutritional quality, clear labeling, and access to healthy food are essential for individual well-being, food-related initiatives often get overlooked in policy discussions. President Biden is the first leader since Richard Nixon to gather experts from government, science, consumer advocacy, the private sector, and philanthropy to address these pressing issues. His proposal includes numerous policy solutions aimed at improving access to healthy food, such as expanding access to free school meals, modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and collaborating with government departments to enhance physical access to grocery stores.
Several proposals may directly affect consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. One notable initiative is the creation of a front-of-pack labeling system that allows consumers to easily understand a product’s nutritional standards. This type of system, which has been successfully implemented in other countries and advocated for by consumer groups for years, could employ traffic lights or star ratings to indicate a product’s health quality. Research shows that such labeling is highly effective in conveying nutritional information.
Additionally, a planned initiative aims to improve the availability of nutritional information for consumers shopping online. The strategy includes a request for information to assess current practices and identify challenges. The administration is also focusing on two potentially problematic ingredients: salt and sugar. It plans to revisit the voluntary salt reduction guidelines issued last year and to consider establishing similar guidelines for sugar reduction. While the updated Nutrition Facts label emphasizes the amount of sugar in products—particularly added sugars—these voluntary guidelines could further limit added sugar content. A public meeting for stakeholders to discuss these matters is also suggested.
Many of the strategies outlined, from new labeling guidelines to enhancing access to nutrition-related healthcare, are not immediate fixes. Administration officials indicated in a recent background call that there is no set timeline for these initiatives, although they aim to address them promptly. One specific action that could take place soon is aligning the federal government’s definition of “healthy” with current nutritional research and standards. Since 2016, the federal government has actively pursued this issue, gathering over 1,100 comments through a Federal Register docket and hosting a public hearing in 2017 for stakeholder input. A notice published last week by the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs confirmed that the regulatory review on this matter has been completed.
Incorporating calcium citrate drug class principles into these discussions could further enhance the understanding of nutritional guidelines and their implications for public health. By integrating the calcium citrate drug class into labeling and health standards, the administration could help consumers make more informed dietary choices. This emphasis on essential nutrients will be crucial as the administration moves forward with its plans to enhance food quality and accessibility.