Mistakes You Should Avoid When Creating Food & Beverage Labels

FDA continuously works to make the life of consumer easy. The new nutrition facts label will make it easier for consumers to make better informed food choices. In May 2016, FDA announced the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods that will provide more information on obesity etc. The good news is that FDA has proposed to Extend Compliance Dates for Nutrition Facts Label Final Rules from July 26, 2018 to January 1, 2020.

If you are investing to revamp/redesign your label, do implement the changes announced by FDA to avoid additional costs later. Below is a comparison of old and new label.

Lets look whats different in the new label at a glance:

1. Features a Refreshed Design

The traditional look with more information for consumer to make a better choice for eating. These changes include increasing the type size for “Calories,” “servings per container,” and the “Serving size” declaration, and bolding the number of calories and the “Serving size” declaration to highlight this information.

Manufacturers must declare the actual amount, in addition to percent Daily Value of vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.

2. Reflects Updated Information about Nutrition Science

• “Added sugars,” in grams and as percent Daily Value, will be included on the label. Scientific data shows that it is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugar, and this is consistent with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• The list of nutrients that are required or permitted to be declared is being updated. Vitamin D and potassium will be required on the label.

3. Updates Serving Sizes and Labeling Requirements for Certain Package Sizes

• By law, serving sizes must be based on amounts of foods and beverages that people are actually eating, not what they should be eating. How much people eat and drink has changed since the previous serving size requirements were published in 1993. For example, the reference amount used to set a serving of ice cream was previously 1/2 cup but is changing to 2/3 cup. The reference amount used to set a serving of soda is changing from 8 ounces to 12 ounces.

For complete information do visit the official page of FDA and incur changes accordingly. Most of the material is directly taken from the official link to avoid any confusion. https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm

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