First Lady Michelle Obama introduced major proposed changes to the nutrition facts label on behalf of FDA at an event held at the White House on February 27, 2014. The updates are designed to reflect the latest scientific information on the link between diet and chronic diseases like obesity and heart disease. The announcement focused on changes in label requirements that highlight new information such as calories and serving sizes.
“Obesity, heart disease and other chronic diseases are leading public health problems,” says Michael Landa, director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “The proposed new label is intended to bring attention to calories and serving sizes, which are important in addressing these problems. Further, we are now proposing to require the listing of added sugars. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends reducing calories from added sugars and solid fats.”