FDA Issues Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on Front-of-Package Labeling
Constituent Update
January 25, 2023
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a 60-day procedural notice on its plans to conduct a study entitled “Quantitative Research on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods.” As part of the Paperwork Reduction Act, federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register on each proposed information collection to give the public the opportunity to comment.
The FDA is conducting this consumer research to help explore the development of a front-of-package labeling scheme, which is part of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, issued at the White House Conference held in September 2022. Front-of-package labeling is intended to complement the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods by giving consumers additional context to help them identify healthy food selections. A standardized, science-based scheme could help consumers, particularly those with less nutrition knowledge, quickly and easily identify foods that are part of a healthy eating pattern. A variety of front-of-package labeling systems have been adopted in countries world-wide.
The U.S. continues to face an epidemic of diet-related chronic diseases, many of which are experienced disproportionately by racial and ethnic minority groups, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those living in rural areas. To help address this problem, the FDA is continuing to prioritize its nutrition activities to help empower consumers with nutrition information to identify healthier choices more easily and encourage industry innovation to produce healthier foods. The consumer research we are announcing today is part of our continuing effort to help enable consumers to make informed dietary choices and construct healthful diets.
The FDA is seeking comment on ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected. Comments on the notice are due 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Submit comments electronically to https://www.regulations.gov, to Docket No. FDA-2023-N-0155. Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All submissions received must include Docket No. FDA-2023-N-0155.
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