Reading a Nutrition Facts label can sometimes feel like cracking a code. What do all the percentages mean? Is 10 grams of fat a lot? The FDA wants to simplify things with a new proposal for front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling, making it easier for consumers to make informed food choices at a glance.
Front-of-pack labeling means putting key nutrition information, like calorie counts or added sugar amounts, on the front of food packaging. Instead of flipping the package over to analyze the dense nutrition facts panel, shoppers can immediately see the most important details.
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The FDA’s proposed system aims to create a consistent, user-friendly format that highlights critical nutrition information in a way that consumers can quickly understand, even during a busy grocery trip.
The FDA’s proposal is part of a broader government strategy to tackle chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
These conditions affect 60% of Americans and drive $4.5 trillion in annual healthcare costs. One key culprit? Excess consumption of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars—nutrients that often appear in ultra-processed foods.
By introducing an easy-to-read Nutrition Info box, the FDA hopes to empower consumers to make healthier food choices in seconds. “It’s time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D.
The proposed Nutrition Info box is backed by a wealth of research from the FDA, including a thorough review of scientific literature, input from consumer focus groups, and a peer-reviewed experimental study. In 2023, the FDA conducted a study with nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to see how people reacted to three different types of front-of-pack labels.
The study's goal was to determine which FOP design could help participants quickly and accurately judge how healthy a product was based on its levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. The results? The study found that the black-and-white Nutrition Info scheme with the percent Daily Value was the most helpful in guiding consumers toward healthier choices.
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"The science on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars is clear. Nearly everyone knows or cares for someone with a chronic disease that is due, in part, to the food we eat.
It is time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go. Adding front-of-package nutrition labeling to most packaged foods would do that. "
- FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D.
The proposed FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info box,” provides information on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has “Low,” “Medium (Med)” or “High” levels of these nutrients.
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Think of it as a complement to the Nutrition Facts label we’re all familiar with but more straightforward. This simple visual tool would let shoppers identify health-conscious options without sifting through detailed nutrition panels. The proposed Nutrition Info box provides a simplified and standardized format to display key nutritional information on the front of packaged foods. Here’s what the labels are expected to include:
Nutrients:
These are nutrients linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes when consumed in excess.
Categorical Indicators:
Each nutrient is classified as Low, Med, or High, giving consumers a clear idea of the nutrient levels in a product at a glance.
Design:
Based on the FDA’s consumer research, the most effective format includes a black-and-white scheme with percent Daily Values (DV) displayed for these nutrients. This design enables quick, accurate assessments of a product’s healthfulness.
Placement:
The proposed label appears prominently on the front of the package, ensuring it’s immediately visible to shoppers without needing to flip the product over.
For food manufacturers, this proposed change could mean rethinking how they present their products. The new labeling requirements will likely push brands to prioritize transparency and nutritional quality to remain competitive. The FDA is inviting public feedback on its proposal, allowing stakeholders—consumers, health experts, and food companies—to weigh in.
Though the timeline for implementation has not yet been set, a finalized FOP rule would require food manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales to add a Nutrition Info box to most packaged food products three years after the final rule’s effective date. Businesses with less than $10 million in annual food sales would have four years from that date to comply.
For food companies, preparation is key to staying ahead of regulatory change.
The FDA’s push for front-of-pack labeling represents a significant step toward improving public health. By making nutrition information easier to understand, this initiative has the potential to shift consumer behavior and encourage healthier eating habits.
For food companies, this is an opportunity to enhance transparency and build trust with consumers. By adopting clear and accurate labeling practices now, brands can position themselves as leaders in a consumer-focused, health-conscious market.
Navigating regulatory changes can be challenging, but you don’t have to go it alone. Trustwell offers comprehensive Food Label Consulting Services to help you develop compliant labels, align with government regulations, and ensure accuracy and quality throughout the process. From nutrition analysis reports to ingredient list creation and allergen declarations, we offer end-to-end support to ensure your labels are accurate and compliant.
Partner with Trustwell to streamline your labeling process and stay ahead of regulatory shifts. Let us help you create labels that meet new standards and build confidence with your consumers.