*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 
1992.00.00 :  Sweeping Changes in Food Labels

Contacts: Betsy Adams (301) 443-4177 (Home) (301) 867-0679
Food and Safety Inspection Service, David Schmidt (202) 720-7943
1992 Press Release (No Date)

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., and USDA Deputy
Secretary Ann Veneman today announced proposals for sweeping
changes in food labels -- changes they said will enable consumers
to select a healthier diet by providing accurate and reliable
information about the nutritional content of the food they eat.
       The most extensive label reform ever proposed, it would
affect virtually all foods.  The changes are expected to be fully
implemented in 1993.
       The proposals cover most of the broad changes required by
the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, a process that is
expected to be completed in 1993.  While meat and poultry
products were exempted by the NLEA, USDA Secretary Edward Madigan
directed USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to issue
nutrition labeling proposals for meat and poultry in harmony with
other foods.
       The most important proposed new rules in today's
announcement include:
       *  Mandatory nutrition labeling for most processed foods,
          including consistent serving sizes in easily
          understandable measurements for most food categories

       *  Definitions for the terms "free," "reduced,",
          "light,"    "less," "lean," "low," "high," "fresh" and
          "source of nutrient"

       *  Conditions for statement of health claims on foods that
          contain nutrients that have a scientifically documented
          relationship with the risk of a disease.

       In addition, today's announcement covers the
implementation of a voluntary nutrition labeling program for raw
fruits, vegetables, and fish, as well as raw, single ingredient
meat and poultry.
       "We must restore the credibility of the food label," said 
Dr. Sullivan.  "Our goal is to make the information on the label
clear and useful, so that American consumers can make informed
choices to improve their health and well being."
       "As a congressman, Secretary Madigan was proud to
cosponsor the NLEA," Ms. Veneman said.  "Together, our two
agencies have now laid the groundwork for one set of sensible
nutrition labeling policies that take the guesswork out of
planning healthy diets."

       The Food and Drug Administration, a Public Health Service
agency within HHS, regulates all foods except for meat and
poultry products, which are regulated by USDA.

       HHS' actions are part of a larger effort to carry out the
NLEA passed by Congress in 1990, as well as in furtherance of an
initiative by the Food and Drug Administration which, at  
Dr. Sullivan's request, had already undertaken a comprehensive
review of food labels.

       USDA's proposal defines 23 meat and poultry product
categories for nutrition labeling purposes.  Veneman said that
this proposal is generally consistent with the FDA proposals for
other foods.  An exception:  the terms "lean" and "extra lean"
are proposed for meat and poultry products that meet strict
limits on fat, saturated fat and cholesterol; these terms would
not be used with other foods.

       Today's proposals would, among other things --

       *  Mandate listing of information about a food's
          nutrient    content on most labels.  While many
          processed foods have       included nutrition labeling
          for many years, it has never been required across the
          board.  In addition, the list of required nutrients
          would be changed to emphasize nutrients that have a
          more significant impact on the health of today's
          consumers, such as cholesterol, fat and dietary fiber. 
          The terms for some nutrients would also be simplified. 
          For example, "saturated fat" would be used rather than
          "saturated fatty acids."

       *  Provide for nutrition information to be presented as
          quantitative amounts -- for example, 4 grams of fat --
          or as percentages of certain dietary reference values. 
          This would give consumers a better basis for comparing
          nutrient contents of various foods.

     *    Address fat, fatty acid and cholesterol content claims. 
          If a food is promoted as "cholesterol-free," "low
          cholesterol" or "x-percent fat-free," consumers may
          assume that it promotes good health or that it is
          different from competitive brands, when in fact this
          may not currently be the case.  The proposed
          regulations would prevent these terms from being used
          in a misleading manner.

       *  Permit health claims for nutrients only if there is a
          valid relationship between the nutrient and the disease
          in question.  The relationships between calcium and
          osteoporosis, sodium and hypertension, fat and
          cardiovascular disease, and fat and cancer are the only
          ones of those considered which are currently supported
          by sufficient data and are proposed to be allowed on
          the label.  Two more claims -- for fiber and heart
          disease, and fiber and cancer -- will continue to be
          studied.  FDA is reserving judgment on these claims
          until it gets enough additional information on which to
          base a final decision.

       Also at a later date, USDA plans to propose labeling
requirements for health claims consistent with FDA's.

       FDA Commissioner David A. Kessler, M.D., said, "In
developing the proposals, we've reached out to consumer, health
and industry groups.  Our job is to make sure that the
information presented on the food label is balanced, that it
tells the whole story."

       In addition, FDA and USDA are analyzing the potential
benefits and costs of the entire label reform initiative,
including its impact on small businesses.  Although early
estimates have placed the cost to food manufacturers at
approximately $2 billion over 20 years, benefits of reduced
medical costs and increased productivity from a healthier diet
should be many times that much.

     Under the NLEA, final regulations must be completed by Nov.
8, *This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 
1992.  Food manufacturers would then have until May 8, 1993,
to begin providing products with the new labels.

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