Tweaking nutrition guidelines is a rough political game that the food industry plays to win, but the Obama administration is jumping into the fray today.
More than two decades after the “Nutrition Facts” panel first appeared on packaged foods and beverages, the FDA is proposing some important changes to make it more relevant and more accessible.
In a move the White House is linking to first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign, the FDA released a proposal to display calorie counts more prominently, reveal the amount of added sugar in processed foods, and get real about serving sizes.
“Our guiding principle here is very simple,” the first lady said in a statement. “You as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf, and be able to tell whether it’s good for your family. So this is a big deal, and it’s going to make a big difference for families all across this country.”