Category: Health regulations

Since mandatory fortification of enriched grain products with folic acid was implemented in the US in 1998, significant decreases in neural tube defects have been observed. This successful public health initiative has brought more attention to how this key nutrient is identified on food and supplement packaging, prompting the question: does folic acid have to be listed?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average American consumes over 3,300 milligrams of sodium daily, significantly more than the recommended 2,300 milligrams limit. The FDA's sodium rounding rule is a regulatory guideline that dictates how manufacturers present sodium content on nutrition labels to help consumers make more informed decisions about their intake.

The 2000-calorie diet isn't a strict dietary rule but rather a benchmark for food labeling that emerged in the 1990s following the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. This standard was created to simplify food labels for consumers, allowing for consistent comparisons of nutrients and health claims.

According to the consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest, they received nearly 20,000 complaints about olestra, a zero-calorie fat substitute, causing adverse health effects. The product's controversy and eventual market failure reveal the complex story behind why is Olestra banned in many countries, despite initially receiving U.S. regulatory approval.

The market for dietary supplements is a multi-billion dollar industry. With this vast array of products, regulatory bodies like the FDA have established strict rules to protect consumers from misleading health claims, distinguishing between permitted structure-function claims and prohibited disease claims. This difference is vital for both manufacturers and consumers to understand.

According to a 2013 study, no conventional foods or beverages in the U.S. are required to list the exact amount of caffeine they contain, highlighting a significant gap in consumer information. This is one of many nuances in a complex regulatory landscape that answers the question: do products have to disclose caffeine?

The global dietary supplements market is booming, with a value estimated at $182 billion by 2023. However, navigating the regulatory landscape can be complex, as different countries regulate their supplements with varying degrees of oversight and unique classification systems.

As of January 1, 2026, all prepackaged supplemented foods in Canada must carry a new, distinct label under Health Canada's new regulations. This article answers the question: **What is the supplemented Health Canada label?** and explains its purpose, so you can make informed choices about your nutrition diet and safety.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first permitted the use of sodium benzoate in food more than a century ago, and it is still widely utilized today. This preservative is not banned in the United States, but its use is strictly regulated. The FDA classifies it as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) under specified conditions, including a maximum concentration limit.

According to the FDA, packaged foods with fewer than 5 calories per serving are permitted to be labeled as having zero calories. Understanding what are the FDA rounding rules for calories is essential for grasping the nuances of the Nutrition Facts panel, which helps consumers make informed dietary choices.