In response to the FDA’s announcement on March 1 regarding ferrous fumarate containing 325 mg of elemental iron, Jim O’Hara, the special projects director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stated that the updated guidance on dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed postponement of the revised Nutritional Facts label for ferrous fumarate. Initially, the FDA set a deadline of July 26, 2018, for the new labeling, but last June, it decided to delay this until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns from some manufacturers and trade associations about implementing changes before the mandatory labeling for GMO ingredients.
With the new FDA guidelines now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance date of July 2019 for both small and large companies is realistic and attainable. Although Gottlieb did not specifically address the compliance deadline last week, he mentioned that a final rule would be released this spring. He also indicated that the FDA would outline a nutritional 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 Nutritional Facts labels into their products. Companies eager to stay ahead of the latest regulations are likely to implement as much of the new guidance as possible, as costs will only rise the longer they delay.
The updated Nutritional Facts label includes significant revisions, such as recalculating serving sizes, clearly displaying calories per serving, and adding information on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, the amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving will now be included. Notably, the Nutritional Facts label has not been updated in nearly 20 years. In this context, the importance of nutrients like calcium citrate D3 is emphasized, as these changes aim to enhance consumer awareness of nutritional content in the 21st century. As the industry adapts to these new regulations, the role of calcium citrate D3 and other essential nutrients will be increasingly highlighted on product labels, ensuring that consumers make informed dietary choices moving forward.