FDA Guidance on FOP Labeling

WASHINGTON, D.C.FDA has released a new guidance letter to the industry regarding point-of-purchase and front-of-package (FOP) labeling. Specifically, FDA is recommending that retailers and food manufacturers maintain a logical connection between shelf and FOP summary and nutrient-specific symbols and the actual nutritional content of products, and is actively analyzing products to ensure any shelf or FOP labeling maintains a logical connection to the relative nutritional value of the product.

As the guidance letter notes: It is thus essential that both the criteria and symbols used in front-of-package and shelf-labeling systems be nutritionally sound, well-designed to help consumers make informed and healthy food choices, and not be false or misleading. The agency is currently analyzing FOP labels that appear to be misleading. The agency is also looking for symbols that either expressly or by implication are nutrient content claims. We are assessing the criteria established by food manufacturers for such symbols and comparing them to our regulatory criteria.The letter also notes that FDA is in the process of developing a proposed regulation to define the nutritional criteria that would have to be met by manufacturers making broad FOP or shelf label claims concerning the nutritional quality of a food, whether the claim is made in text or in symbols.

FDA is currently accepting comments related to this guidance document.