Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today applauded the announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it is modernizing its Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods. The new label will present consumers with clearer information on serving sizes and added sugars, among other improvements. Pallone, along with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), introduced the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2015 in November which called for many of these updates to reduce misleading or confusing information presented to consumers on food packaging. Pallone issued the following comment today:
I commend the FDA for taking action today to update the Nutrition Facts label for the first time in over twenty years. Helping families make healthy food choices is critical to combating the obesity epidemic our country faces. The updated Nutrition Facts label will provide consumers with clear and consistent information about the foods they eat, including information about added sugars and more prominently displayed calorie information. The updated label will also include nutritional information based on a realistic serving size that reflects what the average consumer actually eats. These changes will go a long way in helping consumers make nutrition choices that are right for them and their families, and is another step forward in providing more transparent information about the food we eat, a goal I have long fought for.
