Food and Drug Administration

CFA Questions FDA Proposal to Research Front-of-Package “Healthy” Icon

CFA submitted the following comments in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s announcement that the agency plans to conduct “Quantitative Research on a Voluntary Symbol Depicting the Nutrient Content Claim ‘Healthy’ on Packaged Foods.” The comments point out that official experts have recommended that front-of-package labeling standards apply broadly to all foods—healthy and unhealthy—and that they serve to reinforce consumer awareness and understanding of information presented in the nutrition facts panel. The comments reference research showing that alternative labeling schemes better inform consumers, and urge FDA to expand the scope of its research to  include more effective labeling standards.