WASHINGTON, D.C. February 27, 2014 The White House and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today proposed improvements to the Nutrition Facts label that appears on most packaged foods, reflecting a growing understanding of the nutrition information consumers need to make healthy choices.
Specifically, the FDA proposed to make calories more prominent on the label, remove the calories from fat information, differentiate between natural and added sugars, reduce the recommended daily value of sodium and change the way in which the nutrition information is presented for some single-serve products. This is the first time the FDA has proposed major updates to the content and format of the Nutrition Facts label since it first appeared on most packaged foods, beverages and supplements in 1993.
Following is a statement from John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), on the proposed improvements:
The proposed updates announced today would make the Nutrition Facts label more useful for consumers who want to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. After 21 years, the Nutrition Facts label needed a refresh to reflect our better understanding of what nutrients are important for good health and how nutrition information is presented most effectively. The proposal is a big step forward in helping individuals make more informed choices that could help reduce their risk of overweight and obesity, which are contributing to a growing number of cancer diagnoses.
If made final, these proposed changes would require companies to present calories and other important nutrition information æon food and beverage packaging in a way that is easier for individuals to understand and use in making purchasing and consumption decisions, without assuming that the consumer already has much nutrition knowledge or requiring them to do calculations for single-serve packages.
Evidence shows that up to one-third of all cancer deaths are attributable to poor diet, physical inactivity and overweight and obesity. The proposed changes to the Nutrition Facts label are essential for creating an environment that supports nutritious food and beverage choices that are critical to improving overall health and reducing the risk of obesity and cancer.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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