All food labels in stores will have a different look in a few short years. Notable changes include:
- Vitamin D and potassium levels must be declared on all food labels.
- Lactose, if added as part of dried and concentrated dairy ingredients, will not be counted as added sugar.
- Calories from fat will be dropped from nutrition labels. Meanwhile, source of fat - saturated versus trans - continues to be a label requirement; mounting evidence has shown trans fat is detrimental to human health. Saturated fats, such as those found in dairy foods, have beneficial attributes
In dropping vitamins A and C and adding vitamin D and potassium to dietary labels, FDA has called out vitamin D, potassium, calcium, and iron as under-consumed dietary needs by Americans. The good news for dairy is that three of these four - calcium, potassium, and vitamin D - are readily found in dairy products.
"The Nutrition Facts panel is an important part of nearly every food package sold in the United States and serves as an integral component of nutrition education and information for consumers," said Cary Frye, International Dairy Foods Association vice president for regulatory and scientific affairs. "As such, it is important that the Nutrition Facts panel reflect the very best nutritional science available."
Not only is the story changing for fats, but sugars, too.
"Scientific data shows that it is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugar," wrote FDA officials. "This is consistent with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans."
For this reason, the new label will include a line calling out added sugars.
Click for more information on FDA's new food label requirements.
(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2016
May 30, 2016
