Experimental Study of Nutrition Facts Label Format

November 10, 2010.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-28966 Filed 11-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P

Nutrition information is required on most packaged foods and this information must be provided in a specific format (...) More recently, FDA conducted qualitative consumer research on the format of the Nutrition Facts label on behalf of the Agency's Obesity Working Group (OWG), which was formed in 2003 and tasked with outlining a plan to help confront the problem of obesity in the United States

(...) One Advance Notices of Proposed RuleMaking (ANPRM) requested comments on whether and, if so, how to give greater emphasis to calories on the Nutrition Facts label and the other requested comments on whether and, if so, how to amend the Agency's serving size regulations. In 2007, FDA issued an
ANPRM requesting comments on whether the Agency should require that certain nutrients be added or removed from the Nutrition Facts label.

FDA conducts consumer research under its broad statutory authority to protect the public health by ensuring that "foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary and properly labeled"

(...) FDA is proposing to conduct an experimental study to quantitatively assess consumer reactions to potential options for modifying the Nutrition Facts label format. The purpose of the study is to help
enhance FDA's understanding of consumer comprehension and acceptance of modifications to the Nutrition Facts label format. The study is part of the Agency's continuing effort to enable consumers to make informed dietary choices and construct healthful diets.

(...) The study will focus on the following types of consumer reactions:
(1) Judgments about a food product in terms of its nutritional attributes and overall healthfulness and
(2) ability to use the Nutrition Facts label to, for example, calculate calories and estimate serving sizes needed to meet objectives. To help understand consumer reactions, the study will also collect information on participants' background, including but not limited to use of the Nutrition Facts label and health status.

(...) Several comments cited the importance of studying ways to improve the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and commended FDA for doing it.

(...)
(Comment 2) One comment suggested adding questions about product purchase intent, amount the consumer would likely eat, and impression of the product's taste and safety.

(...) FDA agrees that demographic factors such as age and gender, health concerns, grocery shopping, and food preparation experiences are important factors.

(...) It is estimated that the prevalence of food allergies ranges from approximately 1 to 10 percent of the population.

References
Lando A. and J. Labiner-Wolfe, "Helping Consumers to Make More Healthful Food Choices: Consumer Views on Modifying Food Labels and Providing Point-of-Purchase Nutrition Information at Quick-Service
Restaurants," Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 39: 157-163,
2007.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Calories Count: Report of the Working Group on Obesity, 2004, (http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ReportsResearch/ucm081696.htm)

Schnieder Chafer, J.J., S.J. Newbery, M.A. Riedl, et al., "Diagnosing and Managing Common Food Allergies: A Systematic Review" Journal of the American Medical Association 303(18): 1848-1856.

Silverglade, B and I.R. Heller, "Food Labeling Chaos: The Case for Reform" Center for Science in the Public Interest, March 2010, available at: http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/food_labeling_chaos_
report.pdf