During the past decade, tremendous growth has occurred in the use of nutrition symbols and rating systems designed to summarize key nutritional aspects and characteristics of food products. These symbols and the systems that underlie them have become known as front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols, even though the symbols themselves can be found anywhere on the front of a food package or on a retail shelf tag. Though not regulated and inconsistent in format, content, and criteria, FOP systems and symbols have the potential to provide useful guidance to consumers as well as maximize effectiveness. As a result, Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake a study with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to examine and provide recommendations regarding FOP nutrition rating systems and symbols. The study was completed in two phases. Phase I focused primarily on the nutrition criteria underlying FOP systems. Phase II builds on the results of Phase I while focusing on aspects related to consumer understanding and behavior related to the development of a standardized FOP system. Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols focuses on Phase II of the study. The report addresses the potential benefits of a single, standardized front-label food guidance system regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, assesses which icons are most effective with consumer audiences, and considers the systems/icons that best promote health and how to maximize their use.

This handbook examines the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) passed by Congress in 1990. It discusses the history of the NLEA and its impact on various segments of the food industry, making complex and detailed regulations easily understandable throughout. Government, industry and consumer perspectives on labelling regulations are provided along with practical guidelines for compliance and packaging.

Nutrition Labeling offers a thorough examination of current nutrition labeling practices and recommends ways to make food labeling information consistent with recent dietary recommendations from the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Research Council. The volume proposes implementing a food labeling reform program, addressing such key issues as requiring mandatory nutrition labeling on most packaged foods, expanding nutrition labeling to foods that do not currently provide this information, making federal requirements uniform between agencies, and updating the nutrient content and format of food labels.

A workbook for day-to-day decisions Nutrition labels on various food products must comply with numerous, ever-changing requirements. Items such as meat and poultry products, food packages, and dietary supplements are subject to stringent federal regulations-and the costs of compliance are often significant. The Nutritional Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (NLEA) imposed new mandates for labeling of many packaged food products; still others became subject to a voluntary nutrition labeling program. Following that lead, USDA has imposed parallel labeling requirements. FDA and USDA Nutrition Labeling Guide: Decision Diagrams, Checklists, and Regulations provides hands-on information and guidelines for understanding the latest federal nutrition labeling requirements. This plain English analysis of FDA and FSIS labeling rules contains diagrams and tables and cites specific regulations. Decision diagrams walk the reader through volumes of information and make sense out of complicated regulatory processes. Checklists for managing information for developing specific labels help the reader track regulatory changes and document regulation applicability to company products. The RegFinder index references not only the text, but also provides hundreds of regulatory citations, referenced by topic. FDA and USDA Nutrition Labeling Guide: Decision Diagrams, Checklists, and Regulations will be of interest to food industry personnel responsible for compliance with federal nutritional labeling regulations, food product developers and food technologists. Faculty teaching food laws and regulations and food product development will also find this book of interest.

A nationally recognized nutrition expert tells shoppers exactly what should be going into their carts. The whole foods movement explained how to shop healthfully at the farmers market, but how can families shop smart at Wal-Mart? There is a wealth of information on labels, but most people have no idea that products labeled "trans-fat free" can contain trans-fats or that "all natural" is a meaningless phrase. Readers can bring this handy guide to the supermarket to help them interpret labels like a pro. How much sodium is too much? Are all carbs the kiss of death? And what does "organic" really mean? Renowned nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix clears up the confusion by showing readers how to make sense of the labels and sidestep tricky marketing ploys. She walks them through a typical grocery store and points out the best food choices to make in every aisle.