The Food and Drug Administration has revised its proposed updates for the Nutrition Facts Panel on packaged foods to include the per cent daily value for added sugars. The percent daily value, which indicates how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet, would be based on the recommendation that the daily intake of calories from added sugars not exceed 10% of total calories.
The proposed rule is a supplement to the March 3, 2014, proposed changes to the Nutrition Facts lanel, under which the FDA recommended food companies include added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label, but not the declaration of the per cent daily value for added sugars.
The FDA considered scientific evidence presented by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which showed it is difficult to meet nutrient needs and stay within calorie requirements if one exceeds 10% of total calories from added sugar. The initial proposal to include the amount of added sugars is further supported by newly reviewed studies linking lower amounts of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, the FDA said.
Currently, the Nutrition Facts label lists the percent daily value for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, calcium and iron. To clarify the concept of per cent daily value for consumers, the FDA also is proposing to update the footnote on the Nutrition Facts label to read: “The percent daily value (%DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”
The FDA is seeking public comment on the proposal for 75 days. The agency continues to review comments received on the 2014 proposed rule and is reopening the comment period on its March 2014 proposal for 60 days to invite comment on two consumer studies related to label formats. The FDA will consider comments on the original and supplemental proposed rule before issuing a final rule.