Front-of-Pack: A Billboard for Benefits
Late last month the Grocery
Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Food Marketing
Institute (FMI) announced Facts Up Front, originally
introduced as Nutrition Keys, a voluntary Front-of-Pack
(FOP) nutrition labeling system designed to help consumers make
smart food choices while shopping. Food companies may apply
to participate in this initiative as the industry awaits the
Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Phase 2 report which will
offer recommendations for FDA to develop standardized FOP
systems.
Facts Up Front features
information about both “nutrients to limit”: calories,
saturated fat, sodium and sugar, as well as “nutrients to
encourage”: potassium, fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C,
vitamin D, calcium and iron.
“Nutrients to limit” –
When Facts Up Front are shown, the four nutrient
facts on the left must be consistently presented together.
On small food packages when space is limited, a food company
has the option to display only calories.
“Nutrients to encourage”
– Food companies have the option to include up to two
nutrients to encourage; these nutrients can only be shown
when the product meets the FDA requirement for a “good
source” claim (more than 10% of the Daily Value per
serving).
Read more on the
Facts Up Front website.
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Keeping You Current
Sodium reduction:
FDA & FSIS seeking comments
CFIA guidelines on natural,
naturally raised, feed, antibiotic and hormone claims
FDA's 2012-2016 strategic plan includes food labeling initiatives
News story: EU regulators believe some US labels
use
structure/function claims
not supported by science
New Dietary
Ingredient (NDI) notifications:
federal register notice
extends
draft guidance comment
period
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