New regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) establish new requirements for the nutrition facts box and labels applicable since January 1, 2021. The majority of food packages must be updated accordingly to these new regulations.
The updated label format aims to make it easier for consumers to make better informed decisions, ensuring consumers have access to information they need about the food they consume.
Major changes include, among others, highlighting calories, larger letter size for calories statement, mention of servings per container and serving size, daily values, the actual amount of some nutrients, and a new footnote to better explain the percent daily value.
New FDA label format
New requirements also include the requirement to declare the actual amount of mandatory vitamins and minerals, in addition to the percent daily value. For example, vitamin D and potassium are required on the label in addition to calcium and iron. But vitamins A and C are no longer required but can be included voluntarily. Added sugars must be included on the label, in grams, and as a percent daily value.
New serving sizes?
Serving sizes are based on the amount of food that people typically consume. The serving size of what people eat and drink has changed in the decades since the original nutrition facts label format was created. Thus, serving sizes needed to be updated to reflect more realistically how much people typically eat or drink at one time.
New regulations require to state the serving size in bigger letter size.
Packaging effects
It is well known in the industry that the package size affects what people eat or drink since people are likely to eat or drink the entire amount in one sitting.
Taking into account the effect that bigger packaging has on the unsuspecting consumer, new regulations establish that those packages that are between one and two servings must label the calories and other nutrients properly.
New label formats
These new regulations affect different formats of labels whether they are the standard vertical, vertical with micronutrients, vertical including some voluntary nutrients, tabular format, aggregate display, dual column display, simplified display, etc. Examples of all of them can be found at https://www.fda.gov/media/99203/download
As an example, the following image compares the original label with the new label.
New FDA nutritional label format comparison
Detailed information about the changes to the nutrition facts label can be found at the FDA website at https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/changes-nutrition-facts-label
Working with a dietary supplement manufacturer that knows the regulatory requirements like Nutraceuticals Factory
Nutraceuticals Factory - Science and Nutritional Research
Ensuring that all the information concerning a particular dietary supplement complies with the FDA labeling requirements may be difficult and sometimes onerous. Labeling errors may result in FDA enforcement actions which could ruin your brand´s reputation and business.
Nutraceuticals Factory provides the nutritional and/or supplement facts box format as part of the dietary supplement manufacturing services and we help to review your label to ensure that complies with FDA regulations.
Nutraceuticals Factory in-house development department and quality control team ensures that your products will outstand in design and quality from raw materials to the final product and also comply with current regulations so you can focus on marketing your products.
*The information contained herein is not legal advice and you should not rely upon it as such. We strongly suggest you seek legal advice to better understand which requirements specifically apply to your jurisdiction, to ensure that you are fully compliant.
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