On February 27, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed updates to the nutrition facts label listed on food packages in the U.S. According to the FDA, the changes reflect the latest in scientific information, “including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease.”
To me, this is an important step in the right direction towards a healthier America, one that’s currently plagued by an obesity epidemic. In addition to beefing up the size of the “calories” text, the FDA’s proposed changes advocate for the addition of “added sugars” information, to educate consumers on how much unnatural sugars have been added to the foods they’re consuming.
Most notably, according to the FDA, the new labels “would replace out-of-date serving sizes to better align with how much people really eat.”
This is an important step. After all, think about the last time to you ate a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s Salted Caramel ice cream (my personal favorite). Did you really stick to ¼ of a cup? Or did you eat closer to half a pint? Even fitness professionals struggle with proper serving sizes, just like members of health clubs. According to the FDA, this specific change will update serving sizes and corresponding nutrition information “based on what people actually eat, not on what people ‘should’ be eating.”
“By revamping the nutrition facts label, FDA wants to make it easier than ever for consumers to make better informed food choices that will support a healthy diet,” said Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, in a statement. “To help address obesity, one of the most important public health problems facing our country, the proposed label would drive attention to calories and serving sizes.”
The FDA is accepting public comment on the proposed changes for the next 90 days, which can be seen in its entirety here. And as fitness professionals, our readers are in a great position to offer their support. To submit your opinion, visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!home.
What do you think of the proposed changes? Is this a great next step, or not enough to make a true impact?
Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.
