Shopping at the supermarket can feel like navigating a maze: so many options in every aisle, food packaging covered in marketing claims, and little guidance on what is actually healthy and what is not. People want to make healthy choices for themselves and their families, but how can they when the information available is so overwhelming?
For years, the Nutrition Facts label on the back of food packaging has provided important nutritional information, such as the amount of calories, fat, sodium, sugar, protein, and vitamins and minerals. But all these numbers can be confusing and are not easily visible. Given the high rates of diet-related diseases and illnesses in the United States, advocates say more must be done to ensure consumers have the information they need to make healthy choices.
That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which sets standards for nutritional labeling, is developing a new labeling system that would appear on the front of food and beverage products, offering clear and concise information to help people quickly and easily identify healthier foods. Research from other countries shows that front labeling helps consumers make healthier shopping choices and even encourages manufacturers to produce healthier products.
What could a front label look like? More than 40 countries already require it. Some countries use traffic light colors like red, yellow, and green, or a grading system like a report card — A, B, C, D, E — to indicate how healthy a product is. Other countries use a warning system that indicates whether products contain high amounts of added sugars, saturated fat, or sodium. Approaches like these make it easier for consumers to quickly understand what is healthy and what is not.
The success of front labeling in other countries suggests it will help people in the United States make healthier choices that can improve well-being and reduce high rates of diet-related diseases, including some forms of heart disease and cancer. In fact, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) recommended such a system over 10 years ago, and national research shows that most Americans support it.
The FDA plans to launch a proposal for a front food labeling system in the United States that could take everyone out of the food shopping maze. To stay informed and learn more, visit yourethecure.org/FOP.
“Clear and concise front nutrition labeling is the answer. After all, grocery shopping shouldn’t require a degree in nutrition,” says Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association.
Source: StatePoint