It’s no secret some foods are healthier than others, but sometimes it’s difficult to spot nutritional green flags (or red flags) based on the packaging. That may soon change, as the Food and Drug Administration unveiled a proposal to require a new label on the front of most packaged food and drinks in hopes of making it easier for Americans to choose healthier options.
Under the new proposal, front-of-package labels would show whether a packaged food or drink contains low, medium, or high levels of sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat — all of which are linked to chronic diseases if consumed in excess, according to health officials. This new label wouldn’t replace the nutritional facts label on the back but rather act as a supplement, so consumers can spot relevant info at a glance.
“Food should be a vehicle for wellness, not a contributor of chronic disease,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones said in a release. He added that the proposal could also lead to healthier products: “It’s possible we’ll see manufacturers reformulate products to be healthier in response to front-of-package nutrition labeling.”
