The FDA Proposed Guidelines for Nutritional Labeling:
Are the first since it began about 20 years ago. The initial reason for labeling act including a nutritional panel and ingredient statement was essentially to allow the consumer the ability to make an educated choice when purchasing a product. From 20 years past to today, companies continue to stretch marketing points to help sell product. In some cases, creative marketing can be confusing to the consumer.
When products state on the label lower in fat or no processed sugar, it can sometimes send the wrong message. Lower in fat – than compared to what? Now we see identifiers like 2%, 1% or skim to clearly explain what we are purchasing.
In Ice Cream:
Some well known companies are playing around with the size of a pint creating the illusion they are taking in fewer calories than they really are. The main area of change will be in the nutritional panel and the requirements of servings per container. The proposed changes would mean a pint of ice cream calculating calories based on 4 servings per, would be lowered to 2 servings per and driving up the calorie count. A 20 oz bottle of soda would be 1 serving, so imagine the increase in calories and sugar stated on the panel.
The Proposed Changes:
That would come in effect in about 2 years would represent a major win for the consumer and polar opposite for the manufacturer. It won’t halt the sale of a high fat, sugar or calorie product, but may reduce the consumption level and reduce the annual sale of a product. Ask yourself, would you consume your favorite product as much as you now do if the calories, fat or sugar were 2 – 3 times greater in amount per serving?
Here is a side by side comparison in style of a nutritional panel. Although the panels do not show an example of greater values due to lower serving per container, it does show target values that would be easier to read.
Connect to the link below to read further on the proposed label changes by the FDA. The article is easy to understand and provides further detail on specific items.
Contact Darryl, he can help get started with your new nutrition label.
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