Company insight
The US FDA plans a consumer study on front-of-pack labelling
Informing consumers on what exactly they are eating is the critical first step to improve nutritional education, reduce heart disease and avoid other non-communicable diseases. One of the most effective ways to do this is by using front-of-pack labelling. As more and more countries introduce policies on the labelling of packaged and highly processed food, including a landmark trial in the US, NuTek Natural Ingredients outlines how these measures can benefit customers and manufacturers alike.
n the past decade, both mandatory and voluntary front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) have been used around the world to communicate the healthfulness of packaged and highly processed food to consumers. During the September 2022 US White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, proponents for FOPL addressed ideas to compliment the updated US nutrition facts table by adding a mandatory FOPL to help consumers make healthier food choices. In January 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice to receive comments from the public. The proposal plans to administer a randomised study of 3,000 participants, research findings and determine if FOPL is effective in communicating the facts in a straightforward manner, and if so, which format provides the most clarity.
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as people turn to the convenience of processed and packaged foods. Unless consumers have some knowledge of nutrition and can decipher ingredient labels and nutrition facts tables, many find it difficult to make informed decisions about nutritional value. As obesity, diabetes and heart disease continue to rise, it has never been more important to educate consumers on good nutrition. Since its beginning, NuTek Natural Ingredients (NuTek) has educated consumers on the health risks of consuming too much sodium. It is at the forefront of creating a solution to the unhealthy levels of sodium in ultra- processed packaged and restaurant foods. NuTek, which has broadened its product line to include clean label flavour, texture and preservative ingredients, began with the single vision of reducing sodium in
“FOPL is meant to compliment the nutrition facts table but also provide an easy way for those who have difficulty interpreting it. This could include seniors, people with poor eyesight, who speak a different language or those with lower literacy rates.”
The goal of the FDA’s proposed regulation is to mandate an alphabetical, numerical or colour-coded label that displays an easy-to- understand score for fat, sugar and sodium content in processed and packaged foods.
Working to reduce sodium Making healthy decisions about the foods we eat has become even more complex
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food formulations by swapping potassium salt for sodium salt.
As part of an initiative to educate consumers about the health concerns of consuming too much sodium and under-consuming potassium, NuTek led efforts to urge the FDA to allow the name ‘potassium salt’ in place of ‘potassium chloride’ on ingredient
statements. Consumers can better understand and accept ‘potassium salt’ as a healthy, natural ingredient, which then encourages food manufacturers to include potassium salt in products. Potassium is an essential electrolyte like sodium. Whereas too much sodium raises blood pressure, potassium can lower blood pressure. To remove the bitter flavour that is often associated with potassium salt, NuTek uses a proprietary washing and drying technique, making it a healthy alternative to high levels of salt. When sodium and potassium are balanced and working in tandem, the result promotes healthy blood pressure, decreasing the risks of developing heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other non- communicable diseases. NuTek changed the game for many food manufacturers by helping them reach lower and acceptable levels of sodium with the added benefit of increasing potassium, an under-consumed and necessary nutrient.
Global FOPL and salt reduction FOPL has been widely recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), private health organisations and government agencies. Its success in some countries warrants a strong consideration to its effectiveness. The principal purpose of FOPL is to help consumers quickly and easily understand a food’s nutrient levels relative to healthy eating patterns, allowing consumers to make informed, healthy decisions about their food choices.
Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
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