In response to the FDA’s March 1 update announcement, Jim O’Hara, the special projects director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, suggested that the guidance on dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed delay regarding the updated Nutritional Facts label.” Initially, the FDA had set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for implementing the new label; however, last June, it announced a postponement until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns from some manufacturers and trade associations about the timing, especially before mandatory GMO ingredient labeling was required.
With the release of additional FDA guidance, O’Hara believes that a compliance date in July 2019 for both small and large companies is now realistic and attainable. Although Gottlieb did not address the compliance deadline in his remarks last week, he did indicate 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 improved nutrition.”
Many food and beverage companies, including Hershey, Campbell, and Mondelez, have anticipated these changes and are already implementing the new Nutritional Facts labels on their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of these evolving regulations will likely start adopting as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs may increase with delays.
The revised Nutritional Facts label introduces several significant modifications, such as recalibrating serving sizes, prominently displaying calories per serving, and including details on added sugars and dietary fibers. Additionally, it will feature the amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving. It is noteworthy that the Nutritional Facts label has not been updated in nearly 20 years.
Furthermore, in this context, the calcium citrate generic name is gaining attention, as the updated guidelines may influence consumer choices regarding supplements. As the industry adapts, it is expected that references to calcium citrate generic name will increase in discussions around nutrition and dietary supplements, particularly in relation to iron supplementation strategies.