Front-of-pack labeling for added sugars coming soon

“Mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) labeling rules for added sugars, expected from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October (originally expected in June), are just the beginning of government efforts to reduce sugar consumption and prompt product reformulation away from sugar, Courtney Gaine, PhD, president and chief executive officer, The Sugar Association, told attendees at the International Sweetener Symposium Aug. 6.

“Front-of-pack labeling will not do much by itself,” Gaine said, adding that information about calories also is important. “The fact that calories aren’t in consideration is a problem.”

She noted that FOP labeling for added sugars was just the first step, or “part of a toolbox,” in the FDA’s attempt to reduce sugar consumption.

“It’s more than just more information,” she said.

One FDA goal is to prompt food manufacturers to reformulate away from sugar, she said, citing an FDA document that said, “The mandatory declaration of added sugars may also prompt product reformulation of foods high in added sugars like what was seen when trans fat labeling was mandated.”

“The FDA is moving forward quickly without evidence that it (FOP labeling) really works,” Gaine said. “That’s a little scary.”

“Seventy-five percent of consumers support front-of-pack labeling,” she said, but without added information about calories, use of artificial sweeteners to replace sugar and other information, the added information is lacking.

The FDA is aiming at “nutritionally illiterate” consumers, or those with low nutrition literacy who aren’t going to flip the product over to the back panel that contains additional information, Gaine said.”

Read the full article here: https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/26572-front-of-pack-labeling-for-added-sugars-coming-soon