The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a requirement of a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition label for most packaged foods.

"This proposal plays a key role in the agency’s nutrition priorities, which are part of a government-wide effort in combatting the nation’s chronic disease crisis. If finalized, the proposal would give consumers readily visible information about a food’s saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content — three nutrients directly linked with chronic diseases when consumed in excess."

The proposed FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info box,” provides information on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has “Low,” “Med” or “High” levels of these nutrients.

“The science on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars is clear,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Nearly everyone knows or cares for someone with a chronic disease that is due, in part, to the food we eat. It is time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go. Adding front-of-package nutrition labeling to most packaged foods would do that. We are fully committed to pulling all the levers available to the FDA to make nutrition information readily accessible as part of our efforts to promote public health.”

The proposed Nutrition Info box is informed by a substantial body of research conducted by the FDA, including a scientific literature review, consumer focus groups and a peer-reviewed experimental study. In 2023, the FDA conducted an experimental study of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to further explore consumer responses to three different types of FOP labels.

“Food should be a vehicle for wellness, not a contributor of chronic disease,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones. “In addition to our goal of providing information to consumers, it’s possible we’ll see manufacturers reformulate products to be healthier in response to front-of-package nutrition labeling. Together, we hope the FDA’s efforts, alongside those of our federal partners, will start stemming the tide of the chronic disease crisis in our country.”

However, Roberta Wagner, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at IDFA, issued the following statement in response to the FDA proposal:

“With this proposed rule, the FDA has missed an important opportunity to educate consumers about the nutrients they need to live healthy lives. It is critical that any front-of-package labeling scheme be balanced and provide consumers with the broad scope of nutritional information that fully reflects the calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium, and other essential nutrients dairy provides. By focusing solely on nutrients to limit, FDA’s proposed front-of-pack nutrition labeling rule would unfairly stigmatize a wide variety of nutrient-dense dairy products — such as milk, cheese, and yogurt — despite extensive nutrition science showing their benefits for bone health, immune function, hydration, and reduced risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We urge the FDA to reevaluate its labeling approach to support comprehensive and transparent communication about the health benefits of dairy.”