May we suggest some additional points to your Editorial in the April issue of Food Engineering Magazine regarding FDA’s proposal to update the Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP) as well as the serving size revision proposal? I appreciate that the appearance of the NFP is important as a communication tool to consumers, however; the issues go far beyond just the appearance. The proposed changes to the NFP means that every food label in the United States will have to be updated; this will cost the food industry hundreds of millions of dollars that will ultimately be borne by consumers. We have a responsibility to our consumers to assure that the added cost is commensurate with added value and consumer benefit. We need to ask FDA to answer a few important questions that will determine the success or failure of this major update.
We think we need to pressure FDA to do the homework necessary to fully answer these key questions before they tinker with nutrition labels without any basis (scientific and consumer data) on the impact and value to the American public.