CSPI Urges FDA to Establish Standardized Front-of-Package Labeling

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has filed a regulatory petition asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “to require on the principal display panel of a food an easy-to-understand, standardized system that is 1) mandatory, 2) nutrient-specific, 3) includes calories, and is 4) interpretative with respect to the levels of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat per serving.” The petition argues that current food labeling requirements and voluntary industry initiatives are “insufficient to promote healthy diets” because the Nutrition Facts label “has low utilization.”

“Dozens of countries have implemented [front-of-package nutrition labeling (FOPNL)], and over one hundred experimental and real-world studies have tested the effects of different FOPNL systems,” the petition asserts. “These studies find that well-designed interpretive FOPNL can significantly improve the healthfulness of foods selected by consumers and prompt product reformulation. The U.S. should learn from experiences abroad and follow the science to select a system with optimal potential to promote equitable access to information, improve diets, promote reformulation, and advance public health.”