New Nutrition Facts Label Features Larger Calories Font and Added Sugars
Posted on May 23, 2016
The FDA has announced a new Nutrition Facts label. The look of the label is similar but some of the information is emphasized with bigger fonts (particular calories) and new information, such as added sugars, is now provided. The current label is over 20 years old.
The FDA says some of the changes being made include modifying the list of required nutrients that must be declared on the label, updating serving size requirements, and providing a refreshed design. The graphic below highlights some of these changes. The FDA says added sugars are now included because health organizations including the American Heart Association and WHO recommend decreasing intake of added sugars.
The FDA says that by law "serving sizes must be based on amounts of foods and beverages that people are actually eating, not what they should be eating." They say the amount people consume has changed since the previous serving size requirements were published in 1993. Serving size will get larger in some cases. A serving size of ice cream will go from 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup and the reference amount of a serving of soda will rise from 8 ounces to 12 ounces. This does not mean people are being told to eat or drink more but to give them a better idea of the calories, fat grams and carbohydrates they are consuming.
Dr. Tara Narula, cardiologist at Northwell Health, talked about the new labls on CBS This Morning. She says they will make obtaining the information easier and clearer for consumers. Take a look: