With rising rates of obesity in the U.S. and increasing attention being paid to the health harms of processed foods , it's clear that far more could be done to help consumers make healthy food choices.
A bill known as the TRUTH in Labeling Act has been sitting before Congress since late 2023. If passed, it would require U.S.
food manufacturers to add a second nutrition label to the front of product packages, in addition to the ones currently found on the back or side panel. It would also require the label to highlight any potentially unhealthy ingredients in the product, such as the amount of sugar, sodium and saturated fat it contains. The proposed legislation would provide consumers with a standardized, easy-to-read and quick way to decide whether a product is a healthy choice .
Should the bill, which is still in committee, become law, the front-of-package label would be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The current nutrition facts label, typically featuring more detailed nutritional information and found on a product's side panel, would remain unchanged. As a food safety extension specialist who works with farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and the government to help bring healthy food to shoppers, I believe that consistent front-of-package labeling would greatly benefit consumers by offering a straightforward way to compare multiple products, helping them make more informed choices. Even if passed, it will take time for the FDA to interpret the law an.