In May 2016, the
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put into place
new regulations to make food nutrition labels more user friendly, with information consumers
can use to make better informed choices when they purchase and eat packaged
foods. These new guidelines for labels are now being seen on products
available in most grocery stores, with larger food manufacturers being
required to make updates to their food labels by January 1, 2020.
The look of new labels will remain very similar as they have been, but
now will include
improvements such as making serving sizes and calories more clear. Some vitamins and
minerals are now listed by actual amounts and there is a clarification
explaining Daily Values.
One of the best changes to nutrition labels includes a section for added
sugars in grams and as a percent of the daily value. This information
is especially useful as new research suggests we consume less than 10
percent of our daily calorie intake from
Added sugars are different than sugars that naturally occur in the foods
we eat. They are made into the foods that we often eat to add flavor,
and are sometimes even used as preservatives. Foods that we often perceive
as healthy (like yogurt, granola and even protein bars) can be sneaky
sources of added sugar in our diets—reading a food label can be
eye-opening to say the least!
Below is an example of the old nutrition labels, vs the new nutrition labels, provided by
the FDA. You can use these examples to help you read the labels of the
foods you regularly eat and be a better informed consumer!
FDA: Original vs New Label (side-by-side comparison)
FDA: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label
FDA: Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label
Campbell County Health's
Wellness works to reduce health risks and promote overall wellness among employee
groups and individuals across the northeastern Wyoming region. To learn
more about Wellness, please visit
www.cchwyo.org/Wellness or call 307.688.8051.
Rachel Wilde, PBT, CPT, MA, works at CCH Wellness as a Technician and Phlebotomist