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 regarding dietary fibers, added sugars, and serving sizes “should prompt the agency to reconsider its proposed delay of the updated Nutrition Facts label.” Originally, the FDA aimed for a deadline of July 26, 2018, to implement the revised label; however, last June, they announced a postponement until 2020 and 2021 due to concerns from several manufacturers and trade associations about the timing, particularly before the mandatory labeling for GMO ingredients. With the additional guidance from the FDA now available, O’Hara believes that a compliance deadline of July 2019 for both small and large companies appears realistic and attainable.
Last week, Gottlieb did not specifically address the compliance deadline but mentioned that a final rule would be forthcoming this spring. He also indicated that the FDA would unveil 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 these regulations are likely to begin adopting the new guidance as soon as possible, as costs will only rise the longer implementation takes.
The updated Nutrition Facts label introduces several significant changes, such as recalibrating serving sizes, providing clearer calorie information per serving, and including details on added sugars and dietary fiber. Additionally, it will feature amounts of vitamin D and potassium per serving. Notably, the Nutrition Facts label has not seen an update in roughly 20 years, and consumers will soon benefit from these improvements. As consumers increasingly seek products with beneficial components, such as calcium citrate without D, the updated labels will help them make informed choices about their dietary options.