More about Food Labels

So as I was writing my last blog, the FDA announced an update to the now confusing Nutrition Facts labels. Sometimes I feel like it’s written in another language! You can read the press release here.

As stated by First Lady Michelle Obama, “Our guiding principle here is very simple: that you as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf, and be able to tell whether it’s good for your family…” I love the proposed changes. I love that they are trying to simplify the most important part of the packaging.

Here are some of the key changes:

  • Serving sizes will reflect how much people really eat, not on what people “should” be eating.
  • Highlight key sections of the labels such as calories and serving sizes.
  • Require information about the amount of “added sugars” in a food product.
  • Require the declaration of potassium and vitamin D
  • “Calories from Fat” would be removed.

Food Label ImageBelieve it or not, the nutrition facts have only been required on packaging in the last 20 years. The only real noticeable changes were made in 2006 when information on trans fat had to be declared on the label. It amazing me that it has taken the FDA to make these changes because recommended dietary intakes change as more and more research is done. Nevertheless, I’m glad that they are making the necessary changes. I believe that the consumer will only benefit and learn that eating healthy is not difficult if you know what you are looking at!

 

What do you think of the proposed changes?

Share your comments below!