Tag: Food industry regulations

Over 150 independent scientific studies have demonstrated the Nutri-Score's effectiveness in guiding consumer behavior towards healthier food choices. Despite this evidence, its legal status remains a complex issue, with its implementation largely voluntary across adopting countries.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, any food product containing fewer than five calories per serving can be legally labeled as having 'zero calories'. This regulatory loophole is precisely how spray butter is 0 calories on the nutrition facts panel, despite being primarily composed of calorie-dense soybean or other vegetable oils.

According to the FDA, the Nutrition Facts label was updated in 2016 for the first time in over two decades to reflect updated scientific information. This vital tool provides consumers with essential details about the food they purchase, but its creation is subject to a strict set of regulations concerning design, content, and formatting. Knowing what are the requirements for a nutrition label is crucial for manufacturers and informed consumers alike.

According to the FDA, certain restaurants and food retailers are required to display calorie information for standard menu items. This mandate, however, applies only to specific types of businesses, leaving many smaller, independent restaurants exempt from displaying calorie counts on their menus.