Should the FDA change the nutrition label to a single standardized front-of-package nutrition labeling system?
This bill would establish a single, standard front-of-package nutrition labeling system required for all food productions to be enforced by the FDA. Food labels will be required to disclose the content of added sugars, sodium, saturated fat, and other nutrients that are overconsumed, linked to chronic disease, and recommended to be limited in the diet. There will be new guidelines for any marketing that may confuse or mislead consumers, specifically regarding the use of the word “healthy.” There will be font size, uppercase and lowercase characters, etc. requirements to improve label readability.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, Connecticut)
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Opponents say
At the time of research and publication, no official opponent statements were found. This does not necessarily mean that nobody opposes the bill, nor does it mean that statements won’t be made in the future.
Proponents say
• "This legislation would provide front-of-package food labeling requirements, require updates to the ingredients list on packaged foods, and apply consumer-friendly labeling requirements, including the disclosure of gluten-containing grains. Certain food ingredients pose risks to people with medical conditions, including the more than three million Americans with celiac disease, a serious genetic autoimmune disease. It’s currently far too difficult to figure out whether and how much of these ingredients are present in foods, For those with celiac disease, ingesting gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye sources - causes damage to the villi of the small intestine, leading to long-term health complications, including heart disease and cancers. Food labels can play an important role in managing diet-related diseases, yet federal labeling rules have not kept up with the changing marketplace, and current food labels do not provide the simple, straightforward information that celiac patients need to evaluate products and make healthy choices." Source: Celiac Disease Foundation
• "We’ve all struggled at times to navigate today’s opaque food labels and ‘healthy’ marketing claims during trips to the grocery store. The Food Labeling Modernization Act will update our nation’s food labeling requirements to provide consumers with clearer nutritional information and rein in misleading marketing claims. This legislation will make it easier for consumers to determine the right food choices for their families at the grocery store. I look forward to working with my colleagues to finally update our nation’s food labels." Source: Representative Frank Pallone (Democrat, New Jersey, District 6)
• "This legislation will reform antiquated labeling rules that undercut efforts to buy healthy food. Consumers deserve straightforward, easily accessible information about the ingredients and nutritional value of products they want to buy. With front of package labels, clearly marked allergens, and clarified guidelines to deter misleading claims, our measure will bring transparency and simplicity to Americans’ shopping experience." Source: Senator Martin Heinrich (Senator, New Mexico), Press Release
