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, remarked that the new guidance concerning dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed postponement of the updated Nutrition Facts label.” Initially, the FDA had set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the implementation of the new label but announced last June that it would push this back to 2020 and 2021 due to concerns from certain manufacturers and trade associations about the timeline coinciding with mandatory GMO ingredient labeling.
With the new FDA guidance now available, O’Hara believes a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears realistic and achievable. Last week, Gottlieb did not address the compliance deadline but indicated that a final rule would be issued this spring. He also mentioned that the FDA plans to outline a nutrition strategy in the coming weeks aimed at “reducing preventable death and disease through better nutrition.” Many food and beverage companies, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have already anticipated these changes and are incorporating the new Nutrition 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 since delays will only increase costs.
The updated Nutrition Facts label introduces several changes, including recalibrated serving sizes, clearer calorie displays per serving, and the addition of information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Also included are amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving, with the Nutrition Facts label having remained unchanged for nearly 20 years. Additionally, manufacturers may consider incorporating supplements like calcium citrate malate tablets to enhance their product offerings, as these tablets can provide essential nutrients that consumers are increasingly seeking. The emphasis on nutritional information and transparency can encourage companies to innovate and improve their products, including those that may feature calcium citrate malate tablets.