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June 27, 2005

IDFA Urges FDA to Use Proven Techniques in its Anti-Obesity Efforts

Any changes to food labels aimed at fighting obesity should be proven effective before being mandated, IDFA stated in its June 20 comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA had called for comment on two specific areas of its anti-obesity initiative: 1) whether FDA should alter the prominence of the caloric content statement on food labels; and 2) whether FDA should alter the stated serving sizes of products that can reasonably be consumed at a single eating occasion.

"We feel that providing the information consumers want in order to control their weight is important, but it must be in a format that is proven to be the most helpful to them," states IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton in the comments.

In particular, IDFA is unaware of any studies that indicate that the two proposed moves — further highlighting caloric content beyond current methods or changing single-serve rules — would successfully impact obesity rates. IDFA notes that food labels already contain detailed nutrition information. FDA should carefully consider whether there is a clear consumer benefit to such labeling changes, as they would carry a considerable cost for food manufacturers.

Specifically regarding the proposal to make the caloric content entry more prominent, IDFA notes that "highlighting one nutritional component at the expense of others can backfire and cause unintended consequences." For example, some foods with a higher relative caloric content can be rich in essential nutrients, while a low-calorie food may also be low in key nutrients. IDFA is in favor of keeping the current Nutrition Facts panel as is, since it provides a full picture of the food's nutritional value. To read IDFA's full comments on calorie prominence, click here.

Regarding serving size changes, IDFA notes that food labels currently use common household measurements to designate serving sizes, making it easy for consumers to measure servings and compare foods. IDFA is opposed to changing serving size rules, advocating that any changes be optional, not mandatory.

FDA's efforts on food labeling stem from the March 2004 launch of its "Calories Counts" campaign to help fight American obesity. The FDA action plan is based on the concept of "caloric balance," reminding consumers that "'calories in' must equal 'calories out'" in order to maintain a healthy weight. As IDFA outlined in a November 2004 Hotline, FDA is eyeing a variety of regulatory moves as part of this initiative that could significantly impact the food and dairy industry.

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