Starting January 1st of this year the FDA launched a new food label. By 2021 all food manufactures will be required to update their labels. So what’s changing? We outlined six of the changes for you.
1. Servings
The font is larger and bold, making it easier to read. It also reflects a serving size that is typically consumed. For example, ice cream used to be labeled as ½ cup and now changed to 2/3 cup.
Don’t forget that serving sizes vary based on individual needs.
2. Calories
The front is larger and bold, again making it easier to read and see immediately.
3. Fats
The FDA removed the words, “calories from fat” from the label. This allows people to focus more on the source of fat, aiming to limit saturated and trans-fat.
Recommendations from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state to consume less than 10% of your total calories from saturated fat.
4. Added Sugar
A major change is the new addition of added sugar to the nutrition label.
This is for foods that have had sugar added during food processing or packaging and including sugars from syrups, honey and concentrated fruit or vegetable juices.
5. Nutrients
Due to rare deficiencies, Vitamin A and C are removed from the label. They made the addition of Vitamin D and Potassium, as Americans do not always meet recommended needs. Along with the percentage of the nutrients, the milligrams (mg) and microgram (mcg) are listed.
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Adults
Vitamin D: 15mcg (600 IU)
Adequate Intake (AI) for Adults
Potassium: 3600mg for Men, 2600mg for Women
6. Footnote
The footnote at the bottom of the label has been updated to reflect better understanding of the percentage of daily value.
It states, “The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”
By Allie Coulter, RD, CD, PRO Medical Registered Dietitian
Looking for more support with your personal nutrition needs? Schedule 1:1 with a dietitian at PRO Medical.
