Volume 16, Number
3 - March 2016
Greetings from Food Label News!
We join the rest of the food labeling community with eager
anticipation for FDA's Final Rules for food labels. While
the regulations may be out as early as this month, we look
back to what has highly influenced these regulations
historically: Dietary Guidelines. This month we also address
the use of the term "fresh" on packaging whether in
product descriptions or brand names. As our industry takes
an important step forward, please tell us whats on your
mind and stay informed in the
Food Label Community.
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Dietary Guidelines: An Important Foundation for Final Food
Label Rules
Last month's Wall Street Journal feature on food labeling
brings FDA's much anticipated Final Rules to the national
consciousness. The food industry is poised to change every
single food label to help consumers make smarter food
choices. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a
cornerstone in FDA's nutrition labeling regulations.
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Dietary Guidelines are designed to help people, two years old or older,
promote health, prevent chronic disease and reach and maintain a healthy
weight. First released in 1980, these guidelines are updated every 5
years and establish the scientific basis for all federal nutrition
programs, including research, education, nutrition assistance, labeling
and promotion. |
Recent history supports
use of Dietary Guidelines as a vital reference for food label rulemaking. FDA widely referenced the 2010 Dietary
Guidelines in their 2014 Proposed Rules for nutrition labeling and
serving size changes. They also relied on the scientific report from the
2015 Dietary Guidelines committee for the supplemental Proposed Rule
related to added sugars. |
What distinguishes the recently-released
2015 Dietary Guidelines
and will likely inform the upcoming final labeling rules is the
recommendation for more of a focus on healthy eating patterns across the
lifespan with a gradual shift to healthier foods and beverages.
Specifically, the new Dietary Guidelines:
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Focus on eating
patterns vs. specific nutrients |
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Limit added sugars to less than 10% of total calories |
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Limit saturated fat to less than 10% of total calories |
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Limit sodium to less than 2,300 mg per day |
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Eliminate the previously-established level for cholesterol |
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We await FDA's Final Rules as early as this month,
according to the Fall 2015 Regulatory Plan. While elections and other
political events can affect timing, we look forward to these important
Final Rules so that food labelers can update their food label plans and
consumers can be guided to make healthier food choices.
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What's
News in the Food Label
Community
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Wall Street Journal article highlights food
labels
(18+
likes) |
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FDA Warning Letters and net weight
(12+
comments) |
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Looming deadline for Vermont GMO labeling
(10+
comments) |
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Nutrition claims for servings below the RACC
(8+
comments) |
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Country of Origin "Made in the USA"
(7+
comments) |
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Reader Q&A
Find
answers to our readers'
questions or send us
your question for an
upcoming issue.
Q. |
Are there any regulations governing the use of the term
"fresh" as part of a brand name, e.g., "Fresh
Expressions"?
− J.G., Florida, Consultant |
A. |
FDA defines the terms fresh, freshly frozen, fresh
frozen and frozen fresh in the Code of Federal
Regulations. "Fresh" conveys that the food is
unprocessed - this means that the food is in its raw
state and has not been frozen, subject to thermal
processing or any other form of preservation. This applies
to all label claims including the brand name.
Read more. |
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What Matters in Food Labeling
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about food labels:
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe
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Food Label Partner
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founded in 1993, provides nutrition analysis, food labeling,
and regulatory support for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.
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guarantee: 100% regulatory compliance.
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