Food labeling on packaging

Food labeling laws have progressed from merely protecting consumers from economic harm to reducing consumer’s risk of chronic disease. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&CA) is the basic food and drug law of the United States.

The FD&CA is intended to assure the consumer that foods are pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, that all labeling and packaging is truthful, informative and not deceptive.

In 1990, advancements on food processing technology and the desire of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other organizations such as the Council for Responsible Nutrition to develop uniform policies regarding food labeling led to the passage of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA).

NLEA mandated major revisions on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food labeling regulations, including requiring nutrition labeling on almost all processed foods, a revised list of nutrients to be labeled, standardized serving sizes, nutrient content claims, and for the first time, health claims.

In 2014, the FDA proposed changes to the structure and aesthetics of the nitration label. The proposed changes would require additional information about the amount of added sugars included in products and update of Daily Values on nutrients such as sodium, fiber, and vitamin D.
Food labeling on packaging