New food-labeling draft guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aiming to further clarify the nutritional value of food products to consumers is coming into effect in 2024.
The draft guidance provides food manufacturers with recommendations on how and when to use dietary guidance statements on food product labels “to ensure the label statements promote good nutrition, provide greater consistency in labeling, and assist consumers in making informed choices,” the FDA said in a press release.
“Diet-related chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. and disproportionately impact communities of color and people living in rural areas,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said. “The FDA is committed to being a part of the solution to improve the health of millions of Americans. Today’s action is another step towards helping consumers make informed choices about the foods they eat.”
The FDA noted that Americans’ current eating patterns do not often align with updated federal dietary recommendations, which focus on the entirety of one’s diet and how foods and beverages combine to affect health. Dietary Guidance Statements are declarations on food labels based on key recommendations from consensus reports, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, that focus on how a food or food group can be a part of a nutritious dietary pattern.
