Myth: The Nutrition Facts label is never updated.

Answer: BUSTED!

The FDA just announced that they plan to publish a proposed rule to update the Nutrition Facts label by the end of 2012. This rule will reflect the FDA’s ideas about how to change the Nutrition Facts label. It is expected that the FDA will look at serving sizes, daily values and format changes. In addition, they might add new nutrients to the label.

The Nutrition Facts panel began appearing on foods in 1991. Since then there has only been minor tweaking of the label, including the addition of trans fat information.

Remember that the Nutrition Facts label is a requirement by the government for manufacturers. This information differs from various front-of-packaging labels that groups of manufacturers and other entities have added to packages recently. One example of this type of labeling is Facts Up Front. This front-of-packaging labeling is not required by the government and is voluntary.

For more information about making healthy food choices, visit MissouriFamilies.org

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933