Mar 13, 2020
March is National Nutrition Month what better time to discuss the new changes made by the Food and Drug Administration to the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and beverages due to the link between diet and chronic diseases. Joining WDTV for this week's House Call is Michelle Cesa, from UHC Nutrition Services, to explain how the new nutrition facts label can help improve your health.
1). So what prompted the need to redesign the food and nutrition labels?
Well, (say anchor’s name) this is the first major change to the label since it was introduced in 1994. These new changes began on January 1 of this year and the changes are based on updated science, the most recent dietary recommendations, and input from the public. Using the new label can help you choose foods for a healthy diet. The label will be required on all packaged foods made in the United States and imported from other countries.
2). Tell us what changes can we expect to see while grocery shopping?
First, the serving size is now reflective of a typical serving.
Next, the Serving Size and Calories are now in bold type.
Third, when it comes to health outcomes, the type of fat you eat matters. Fort this reason, the label will show percentages from the unhealthy saturated and trans fats.
Forth, the nutrients included on the label were changed to reflect current nutritional concerns. Now included, in addition to Calcium and Iron, are Potassium and Vitamin D.
Finally, the addition of Added Sugars, including the percentage present in the food, has been added.
3). What two improvements to the label do you hope the public finds most helpful?
I think that the most helpful changes are the addition of added sugars and the update to serving sizes.
Added Sugars
This will help you choose products that have lower amounts of added sugar for your diet. Less than 10% of your daily calories should be from added sugars.
Serving Size
Twenty years ago, people tended to eat smaller amounts than they do now. The new serving size reflects what people are likely to eat or drink today and not necessarily the portions they should eat.
For example, the serving size of a 12 ounce or 20 ounce bottle of soda will be labeled as 1 serving. This is intended to give people a more realistic view about the number of calories they are consuming.
This content was originally posted on the WDTV News website here.
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