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Volume 16, Number
6 - June 2016
Good news from Food Label News!
FDA released the much-anticipated final Nutrition Labeling
regulations last week. It's a busy time for the industry as
we digest the changes and understand their implications. In
this issue we highlight important distinctions of the new
rules. Look to subsequent issues of Food Label News
for a deeper dive into the nuances and how they will affect
your product labeling. The most cost-effective way to comply
is on everyone's minds. As always, send us your questions
and share your thoughts in the
Food Label Community on LinkedIn.
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New Nutrition Label Regulations:
Part 1 of the Series
Flashback to 1993 when Jurassic Park topped the box office,
"Got Milk?" was the nation's favorite quote and Beanie
Babies were born. For the food industry, it was also the
year FDA published its first U.S. mandatory nutrition
labeling requirements, which except for the addition of
trans fat, have remained essentially unchanged until now.
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The new nutrition label
regulations published May 27, 2016, will have a sweeping impact on every
single food manufacturer, retailer and distributor in the U.S. as well
as those who import food into the country. Every package of food sold in
the U.S. regardless of channel or distribution will require a new
Nutrition Facts label.
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A
quick overview of the changes: |
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Revised format highlights Calories and Servings |
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Focus on serving sizes that better reflect what
people most commonly consume |
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New requirement to include Added Sugars with Percent
Daily Value (%DV) to better inform consumers about foods' sugar
content |
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Nutrition Facts Per Package and/or Per Serving to
help people understand how many calories and other nutrients
they will consume for the entire package versus a single serving |
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Updated Daily Values for several nutrients like fat,
carbohydrate, sodium and dietary fiber |
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Actual gram amount for calcium, iron,
vitamin D and potassium in addition to %DV |
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Vitamins A and C are no longer required but can be
included as voluntary nutrients |
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Calories from Fat is no longer allowed on the
Nutrition Facts label |
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Revised footnote better explains the %DV for
consumers |
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When do you have to comply? The new format can be implemented as early
as July 26, 2016 – 60 days from the date new regulations were published
in the Federal Register. Labels must be 100% compliant no later than
July 26, 2018 (July 26, 2019 for manufacturers with less than $10
million in annual food sales). Access new nutrition label regulations
and revised format
here. |
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New nutrition label regulations will have widespread
impact across the industry and will require food labelers to evaluate
their formulas and packaging to plan for compliance. The addition of
added sugars, vitamin D and potassium along with revised Daily Values
for fat, carbohydrate, sodium, dietary fiber and several other nutrients
calls for a completely new nutrition analysis for every product – even
if the formula and serving size remain the same. Format changes are also required to meet
the new nutrition label specifications.
Need assistance to be sure you get 100% accurate labels?
We can help with
Full Label Compliance or simply support development to revise your
Nutrition Facts labels.
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What's
News in the Food Label
Community
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Reader Q&A
Find
answers to our readers'
questions or send us
your question for an
upcoming issue.
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Q. |
I heard that FDA has postponed the requirement date for
restaurant menu labeling. Is this true?
− E.S., Florida, Restaurateur |
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A. |
Yes, it was postponed and the revised compliance date
for restaurant menu labeling is May 5, 2017. As part of
the Affordable Care Act in 2014, FDA finalized rules
that require restaurants and similar food establishments
to provide nutrition information to consumers. The
original compliance date was December 1, 2015. However,
the omnibus appropriations bill passed through the House
and Senate in December 2015 required FDA to issue final
guidance on menu labeling before setting a compliance
date. The final guidance was published in the Federal
Register on May 5, 2016, resulting in a compliance date
of May 5, 2017 - one year from the date of publication.
More Reader Q&As. |
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What Matters in Food Labeling
Food Label News,
now in its 16th year, is a monthly e-newsletter reaching
over 9,500 subscribers around the world. We
welcome your colleagues to subscribe for news and insights
about food labels:
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe
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Your Virtual
Food Label Partner
Food Consulting Company,
founded in 1993, provides nutrition analysis, food labeling,
and regulatory support for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.
Our
guarantee: 100% regulatory compliance.
Contact us
for the help you need now.
You may reprint all or part of this newsletter
provided you attribute it to Food Label News
and include a link to
www.foodlabels.com.
© 2016. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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