FDA announces changes in Food Labels

The FDA is proposing nutritional label changes to help the consumer make the best decision with the goal of providing a better education for the public when it comes to consumption.  

In the representation of the serving size in an effort to parallel what they believe accurately reflects the amount that people usually eat or drink. For example, a typical 20 oz beverage in a gas station is usually not entirely consumed; instead the consumption is believed to be around 8-10 oz. The new rules would require the entire beverage to be one serving size, making the caloric counting more simple for the consumer. The new labels will better reflect the actual amount that’s eaten in one sitting. When you buy a 20 oz soda, do you stop drinking it at 8 oz like the serving size recommends? Ice cream... another great example–the recommended serving size for most ice creams is 1/2 a cup. If you eat ice cream, do you stop at 1/2 cup? Understanding nutritional labels is important. Many may glance at the calories represented on the label and see that an 8 oz serving is “only” 250 calories, so they don’t think twice about the servings "per container", which may be between 2 and 4!

Seeing that a full 20 oz portion contained 625 calories may shift the mind into being more likely to choose a healthier beverage on a different shelf.Proposed change for the listing of added sugars: Some foods contain natural sugars but there’s no way of knowing on a label what sugar is naturally occurring and what is added. This is very significant not only to diabetics, but also to those trying to lose weight and control sugar intake. Consumers will now have a better idea of how much added sugar is in their food when reading the new labels.

Current Nutritional Label

 New Nutritional Label

Other proposed ideas include changes to the daily values for certain nutrients and changes in what nutrients are listed. Our “old label” example displays vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. Our “new label” example displays vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. This is interesting. Not a lot of facts elaborate on these vitamin alterations, but I believe that it could be an attempt at better representation of information to those needing a broader spectrum due to a specific illness. Vitamin A and C are important, A is found in many foods and too much C can be eliminated in the waste by the body. However, calcium is important for bones and bodily functions, iron is important (for non meat eaters especially) to avoid extreme bodily fatigue (while it can also be a detriment to our arteries in high amounts, over long periods of time), and potassium is important for hydration of organs and muscle relaxation. 

Could Additional Labeling Be Done and Other Improvements Made?

Yes. The fact that a needed change was recognized was a great start. More advances could take into consideration an improvement in the labeling of GMO's. We all have a right to know what’s in our food, including GMOs. With this push for new labels it would be easier for companies to include GMO labeling since they’ll already be incurring the costs of changing the labels.

Why Should GMOs be Labeled?

First and foremost, people have a right to know what’s in their food!
- There is growing evidence that suggestions GMO consumption may be linked it auto-immune diseases, infertility, digestive disorders and cancer!
- If GMOs aren’t labeled it makes it more difficult to track their health impacts and hold individuals accountable for what’s in their products.
- Animal studies have shown that GMOs cause sterility within three generations!
- GMO corn contains its own pesticide inside the plant that cannot be washed off before it is eaten.
- GMOs are NOT the same as their non-GMO counterparts, nutritionally or compositionally.

In conclusion, these label changes will not have a huge impact on the overall population. The changes, relatively minor, will help those that have not paid attention to what they are placing in their bodies, but those who have always paid attention to what they eat will continue to do so, regardless of how a label looks.

Zeke Samples, IFA, CSN, CPR, IDEA

Surreal Body Solutions, LLC

803.322.7649

www.SurrealBodySolutions.com 

& contributing health and exercise author

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