The FDA's new nutrition labels make so much more sense

The FDA's new nutrition labels make so much more sense

It's hard not to feel deceived after polishing off a tiny bag of chips only to realize that there are technically two servings of chips in that one bag.

Part of learning how to read nutrition labels has always meant looking for the number of "servings per container" and multiplying each number accordingly if you deviate from the serving size. However, new nutrition labeling guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aim to make nutritional information per package – not just per serving – clearer.

The new nutrition labels include two columns: one for a single serving and one for an entire package. (Related: 5 Things You Need to Know About the New Nutrition Facts Label)

Although the serving sizes may sometimes seem arbitrary, they are standardized based on what the FDA calls the Commonly Consumed Reference Intakes (RACC). These figures are based in part on national survey results and are therefore subject to change. For example, ice cream's RACC is increasing from 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup because updated survey results indicate that Americans overall are eating more desserts in one sitting than in 1993 (when the 1/2 cup RACC was first introduced). ), according to the FDA. However, food does not have to fit exactly into a RACC quantity to be considered a single-serving package; Anything 200 times the RACC or less can be considered a serving. These foods do not need to carry the two-column label because both columns would say the same thing.

But some food packages contain more than 200 times the RACC, but people often eat them in one sitting - and that's where the new nutrition labels come into play. Packaging that someone could “reasonably” consume in one sitting, but which does not technically contain just a single serving, will display nutritional information for both a serving and a package. According to the FDA, this particularly includes packaging that contains 200 to 300 times the RACC of the food. Translation: The new label is more likely to show up on that little bag of chips than on a loaf of bread. (Related: Why food labels that indicate how much exercise it takes to burn calories are a bad idea)

Will *all* foods have new nutritional information?

The FDA required food manufacturers making $10 million or more per year to use the new labels by January 1, 2020. Manufacturers that produce less have until 2021 to make the change.

However, some foods are exempt from the two-column format, regardless of how much money the manufacturer makes. For example, packages that do not allow space for the additional column (such as a large candy bar), or foods such as pancake mixes (which include an additional "as prepared" column in their nutrition labels) are not required to adopt the label, according to the FDA.

ICYMI, the FDA also included other changes in its new nutrition labeling guidelines.

You may have noticed that even single-column nutrition labels look different these days. Calories and portion sizes have been made larger and bolded. Why? "We felt it was important to better highlight these numbers because nearly 40 percent of American adults are obese and obesity is linked to heart disease, stroke, certain cancers and diabetes," the FDA wrote in a statement.

Additionally, vitamin D and potassium earned points on the new nutrition label because, according to the FDA, Americans don't always get the recommended amounts of these nutrients (compared to vitamins A and C, which were previously required on the label). (This is why it's still important to be aware of your intake of all of these nutrients, even if they don't appear on the nutrition label.)

Finally, the new label lists added sugars in addition to total sugars. This is a useful distinction because added sugar has no nutritional value, while natural sugar can contain fiber, potassium and other nutrients. (Related: Should added sugar appear on food labels?)

Serving sizes were much easier to miss – and even misunderstand – when reading the old nutrition labels compared to the new designs. The bolded serving size and adopting the double columns will no doubt help anyone who isn't privy to serving size versus servings per container.