Webcast | Virtual
Event Title
Navigate Food Labels with Confidence: Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label, the Updated “Healthy” Claim, and Other Nutrition Claims
May 13, 2026
- Date:
- May 13, 2026
- Time:
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET
To Attend
For technical assistance please contact: Joyce.Obidi@fda.hhs.gov
Summary
The FDA’s Office of Women’s Health, in partnership with the FDA’s Human Foods Program, is hosting a webinar during National Women's Health Week focused on empowering women to make informed, healthy food choices through understanding nutrition labeling and food claims.
This comprehensive session will guide participants through the essential components of the Nutrition Facts Label, teaching them how to use serving sizes and daily values to quickly identify healthier options. The webinar will also explain the different types of nutrition claims, including but not limited to, health claims and nutrient content claims that may appear on food and supplement labels. In addition, it will discuss how FDA authorizes these claims to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
A highlight of the webinar will be an overview of FDA's recently updated "healthy" nutrient content claim, which represents the first major revision to the Nutrition Facts label since 1994. Participants will learn the new criteria foods must meet to carry the "healthy" claim and how these changes can help consumers build healthier dietary patterns.
By the end of the webinar, attendees will have practical knowledge to navigate food labels confidently and make evidence-based decisions that support their health and wellness goals.
Event Objectives
- Provide consumer-focused education on FDA nutrition labeling and claims during National Women's Health Week (May 10-16, 2026)
- Highlight FDA nutrition regulatory updates including the Nutrition Facts Label, health claims, nutrient content claims, and the updated "Healthy" claim
- Integrate women's health-focused topics including bone health (calcium and vitamin D), folic acid/fortification, and potential health claims (e.g., cranberries and UTI risk)
Speakers
Crystal Rivers, M.S.
Nutritionist
Fabiana Moura, Ph.D., M.S.
Nutritionist
Vincent de Jesus, M.S.
Nutritionist
Sarah Gebauer, PhD, FASN
Nutritionist
Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling
Nutrition Center of Excellence
Human Foods Program
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
About the Speakers
Crystal Rivers, M.S., is a nutritionist in the Division of Nutrition, Labeling, Science and Claims, Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, Nutrition Center of Excellence, Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She is a member of the Nutrition Science Review Branch where she evaluates scientific evidence for health claim petitions. Besides her evidence-based review of health claims, she has worked on a wide range of regulatory and policy issues related to nutrition labeling. She was the subject matter expert for the Reference Daily Intakes (Daily Values) and Sodium sections for Nutrition and Supplement Facts Label proposed and final rules. Prior to joining FDA in 2005, Crystal worked as a Research Associate at the Institute of Medicines’ Food and Nutrition Board on the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Crystal was also an Extension Agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension, where she taught educational programs in nutrition and food safety. Crystal holds a B.S. and M.S. in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Fabiana Moura, Ph.D., M.S., is a nutritionist in the Nutrition Science Review Branch within the Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling at the FDA. Dr. Moura evaluates scientific evidence supporting federal nutrition labeling policy, including determining whether ingredients meet the FDA’s definition of dietary fiber, substantiation of health claims, and regulatory updates to the Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels. In 2023, she served as a committee member for an FDA Public Meeting titled “Strategies to Reduce Added Sugars Consumption in the United States”. In this role, she managed and oversaw multi-country contracts with national and international partners, including randomized controlled trials to assess biofortified crops and their impact on the nutritional status of women and children in rural communities across Africa and Asia. Dr. Moura earned her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from the University of Maryland and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis. She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science from accredited universities in Brazil.
Vincent de Jesus, M.S., is a nutritionist in the Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, Division of Nutrition Labeling, Science, and Claims. He has worked in ONFL for over 20 years and focuses on reviewing and writing regulations for health claims and nutrient content claims. Prior to coming to FDA, he worked in nutrient data/food composition at USDA. Vincent has an M.S. in Nutrition Science from Florida State University.
Sarah Gebauer, Ph.D., FASN, is a nutritionist in the Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling of the Human Foods Program. She evaluates scientific evidence to inform regulations and policies related to nutrition labeling and label claims (e.g., Nutrition Facts label, health claims, and nutrient content claims). Examples of significant projects include updating the “healthy” nutrient content claim and implementing the FDA regulatory definition of dietary fiber. Prior to joining FDA, Dr. Gebauer conducted highly-controlled dietary interventions on the relationship between diet and risk of chronic diseases at the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. She has a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in biology, both from Penn State University.