FDA Proposes New Rules to Nutrition Labels

In an effort to promote healthy eating, the FDA is proposing the first change to nutrition labels in more than 20 years. 

The propsed nutrition labels will give consumers a better indication of how their serving sizes are measured. Most of those adjustments to the serving sizes will be accounting for how people really eat their food. For example, the serving sizes for soda will be eight ounces instead of twelve ounces. Companies will also have to include the number of "added sugars" as well as a larger display of total calories in their product.

Nutritionist Joy Dubost, with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says the new rules will help people make better choices.

"Consumers will understand how many calories they are consuming at one time, and throughout the day, but it's also going to update on current dietary recommendations around fat, sugar and other nutrients," Dubost said.

The proposal marks a positive direction for helping consumers make healthier choices, though many expect a "backlash" from food companies due to the cost of changing nutrition labels.

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