FMI – The Food Industry Association highlighted the importance of providing consumers with clear, consistent nutrition information during the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s public meeting on front-of-package labeling as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers proposed FOP labeling schemes.
FMI shares FDA’s goals of reducing diet-related chronic diseases, prioritizing nutrition activities and empowering consumers with information to make healthier choices.
In her remarks, FMI Senior Director of Health and Well-being Krystal Register noted, “FMI is the co-creator of the Facts Up Front (FUF) program – a voluntary labeling program designed to allow consumers to use key product information like calories, saturated fat, sodium, added sugars and nutrients to encourage. FMI believes that FUF is the best suited FOP scheme with clear facts to help consumers make informed choices.”
“Many of FDA’s proposed FOP schemes go beyond factual disclosure with subjective characterization of foods. Reducing a food’s entire dietary contribution to whether it is low, medium or high in one to three nutrients to avoid is overly simplistic and will not help educate consumers on how to improve their overall dietary pattern. We also believe meaningful discussion of consumer guidance must include calories, which none of the FOP schemes tested have included,” Register said.
“When considering the potential intersection with other nutrition-related policies, there are noted conflicts between the proposed definition of ‘healthy,’ nutrient content claim levels, guidance for using Dietary Guidance Statements and the front-of-package schemes tested. As policies intersect, there must be alignment of parameters, and values must be considered in unison to prevent consumer confusion.”
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About FMI
As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings a range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry.
