Biden administration proposes front-of-package nutrition labels
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Most packaged foods may soon carry front-facing nutrition labels under an 11th-hour proposal the Biden administration unveiled on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Consumer advocates say front-of-package labels have been shown in other countries to steer consumers to healthier options and incentivize food companies to reformulate their products.
- The rule drop comes amid growing political interest in the U.S. food system and its contribution to chronic disease.
Driving the news: If finalized, the proposed rule would require new labels on the front of food packaging that would display information aimed at helping consumers quickly "make more informed dietary choices."
- The label would contain information about the nutritional content of the food, including whether a product has low, medium or high amounts of saturated fat, sodium or added sugar.
- It would "complement," not replace the nutrition labels already required on packaged foods, according to the proposed rule. Front-of-package labels have been backed by the World Health Organization.
What they're saying: The nutrition facts label that's already required on most packaged food has been an essential tool, but "high rates of diet-related illnesses continue to show that additional actions are needed to address the confusion and barriers consumers face in evaluating and identifying better options," Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a statement.
Reality check: While the proposed FDA rule addresses some of the same concerns as the Make America Healthy Again movement, it's unclear whether it will be embraced by the incoming Trump administration.
