P96-18 Food and Drug Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arthur Whitmore: (202) 205-4144
December 31, 1996
Consumer Hotline: (800) 532-4440
NUTRITION FACTS LABELS GETTING IT RIGHT
Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna E. Shalala
today reported the accuracy of nutrition information on food
labels is up in the government's latest comparison of data
appearing on labels with the actual nutritive contents of food
products.
Shalala said 91 percent of tests on sample food products in
1996 showed the labels correctly listed nutrition information.
That figure is up from 87 percent in 1994.
"Consumers count on the food label to get reliable nutrition
information. These results show that this confidence is well
placed," Shalala said. "As we begin a new year, I hope consumers
will continue to make even more and better use of the nutrition
facts label to help them eat for good health."
"The nutrition facts label has within the space of a few
years become a standard that many Americans use to make basic
decisions about their diet and nutrition," said FDA Commissioner
David A. Kessler, M.D. "The results of this and other studies
indicate that the food label has met, and in many cases exceeded,
the expectations set for it."
Basic information on the nutritional content of individual
food products has been required on most food labels since 1994.
In a standardized format, labels must list amounts per serving of
calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, cholesterol and
other nutrients and vitamins, as well as other information on
the nutritive value of the product.
Results of the latest survey of label accuracy were reported
by FDA, based on more than 2,000 laboratory tests on 300 samples
of food products purchased off retail shelves this year.
Test results were particularly encouraging regarding
accuracy of labeled amounts for the nutrients of the most
critical public health importance -- as evidenced by the
following accuracy rates for calories, total fat and saturated
fats:
* 93 percent for calories
* 96 percent for total fat
* 93 percent for saturated fat
Other nutrients of concern to the public and health
professionals also tested well. Nearly 90 percent of sodium
amounts, 98 percent of total carbohydrate amounts, and 95 percent
of sugar amounts were found to be accurate in sample products.
In terms of cholesterol, 80 percent of the labeled amounts
were found to be accurate. Similarly, 80 percent of dietary
fiber and 80 percent of calcium amounts were found to be
accurate.
Most of the variances detected by laboratory analyses were
small, and in some cases, differences in testing methodologies
and limitations of analytical methods contributed to disparities
in the labeled amounts. For example, the fact that Vitamin A
amounts tested accurate only 54 percent of the time may be due in
part to difficulties in developing standardized methodologies for
analyzing this nutrient.
Nevertheless, percentages for all nutrients were the same or
better than those in FDA's last check on food label accuracy,
conducted in 1994.
Kessler said the FDA would follow up on any inaccurate
labels it finds by contacting and working with manufacturers to
help them bring the labels into compliance with regulations as
required under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as amended
by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990.
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