Lawmakers filed companion bills in the House and Senate on Wednesday to create a standard format for front-of-package nutrition labels so consumers will have a better idea of what’s in their food. “That isn’t always easy with today’s opaque food labels and marketing claims,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a sponsor of the legislation.
Besides uniformity in front-of-package labeling, the Food Labeling Modernization Act would allow lower amounts of salt to be used in staples such as bread and cheese. It would also require products making claims of healthy ingredients to specify how much of those ingredients are in a serving. In addition, online retailers would be obliged to display the Nutrition Facts box, ingredient, and allergen information for grocery items.
“Food labels make numerous health claims that are more often hype instead of helpful,” said Consumer Reports, a supporter of the legislation. The Center for Science in the Public Interest said front-of-package labeling standards “are already in use in dozens of other countries and help consumers select healthier foods.”
To read the text of the legislation, click here.