January 2021: Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label coming January 2021
"On May 27, 2016, the FDA published final rules on the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to reflect new scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The new label makes it easier for consumers to make better informed food choices." Read more about this change here or find industry specific resources here.
- Manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual sales were required to switch to the new label by January 1, 2020
- Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until January 1, 2021 to comply.
- Manufacturers of most single-ingredient sugars such as honey and maple syrup and certain cranberry products have until July 1, 2021 to make the changes.
VSFA Associate Member Gravel & Shea's Food and Beverage attorney Cassandra LaRae-Perez shares in her most recent blog post that "the FDA has not yet announced an extension, but we would expect the Agency to provide considerable enforcement flexibility." Read her full article here.
Cassandra's advice: plan to hit the January 1, 2021 deadline if you can, but you will likely be granted flexibility if, due to the COVID-19 restrictions on packaging and label printing, you are unable to do so.
