In a bold move lodged within its nutrition policies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking to develop a standardized Front Of Package (FOP) labeling system. This advancement is meant to simplify nutritional information for consumers, effectively enabling them to make healthier food choices, aligning with the objectives set by the White House’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

“There’s no magic bullet to overturn diet related illnesses,” states Robin McKinnon, Senior Advisor for Nutrition Policy at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “However, with this strategy, the various governing agencies are utilizing their respective powers to make meaningful strides in enhancing public health.”

McKinnon opines that FOP labelling serves as a valuable supplement to the existing Nutrition Facts label by offering consumers extra context to discern healthier options. A uniform, scientifically backed FOP system could equip consumers with the added details necessary to cultivate healthy dietary habits.

“The end goal is to streamline the process of identifying healthier options,” reveals McKinnon.

The FDA initiated the move for an FOP research study on January 25, 2023, with a 60 day procedural notice, encouraging both stakeholders and the public to chime in their thoughts. Subsequent to public input, further details on the study’s design and the specific schemes under assessment were relayed in a 30 day notice issued on June 15, 2023.

“Through comprehensive literature reviews, perceptive insights from focus groups, and a wealth of FOP schemes from across the globe, we’ve developed FOP patterns for our consumer research,” declares McKinnon.

An in depth FOP labelling review by the FDA shows these labels could be pivotal for consumers to detect healthier food selections, particularly for those with less nutritional awareness. The standout preference is for simplistic, interpretive FOP labels, which augment the information provided by the Nutrition Facts label.

McKinnon asserts that such feedback has set the foundational groundwork for ongoing research to evolve an accessible FOP scheme to aid consumers in their pursuit of healthier diets.

“In essence, we strive to give consumers the tools they need to eat healthier,” concludes McKinnon. “The demand for healthier eating is strong, and we’re here to equip consumers with the necessary information.”