In some instances, special provisions exist for providing nutrition information. Because little nutrient data exists for these foods, FDA believes that allowing this option will enable game meat producers to give first priority to collecting appropriate data and make it easier for them to update the information as it becomes available. FDA-regulated food packages with less than 12 square inches available for nutrition labeling do not have to carry nutrition information. However, they must provide an address or telephone number for consumers to obtain the required nutrition information. Packages with less than 40 square inches for nutrition labeling may present nutrition information in a tabular format, abbreviate the names of dietary components, and omit the footnotes with the list of daily values and caloric conversion information but include a footnote stating that the percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet or place nutrition information on other panels.
Some foods are exempt from nutrition labeling.
But, there will be plenty of other foods carrying the new nutrition information. Dietitian Susan Thom sees that as a plus. So there'll be little room for excuses. Paula Kurtzweil is a member of FDA's public affairs staff.