Nutrition labels set for major overhaul

Courtesy of Politico

Should a regular bag of Chex Mix be labeled as containing eight servings, or just two? Should pasta sauce jars tell how much sugar was added?

The Obama administration is expected to take a major step toward addressing questions like these on Thursday when it unveils the first update to nutrition labels on food packages in more than two decades.

The big changes coming to the iconic Nutrition Facts panel are to be rolled out Thursday, sources say, when First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to make an announcement in the East Room at the White House “regarding proposals to help parents and other consumers make healthier choices.” Neither White House nor Food and Drug Administration officials would confirm the timeline.

The event is part of the fourth anniversary celebration of Let’s Move!, Obama’s campaign to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.

The proposed rules, which have been in the works at FDA for more than a decade, are a high priority for the administration and have been swiftly ushered through the review process at the White House Office of Management and Budget, where they are currently listed as under review.

Food industry groups and health advocates have not yet been briefed about what, exactly, will be in the proposals, but the changes are expected to spark significant pushback from the industry.

By Helena Bottemiller Evich 

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