Who came up with the Nutrition Facts label?: The history of a diet icon

November 2, 2025 •

4 min read

The iconic black-and-white Nutrition Facts label, a staple on packaged foods since 1994, was the result of extensive legislative and creative efforts. The question of who came up with the Nutrition Facts label? leads not to a single inventor, but to a complex history involving public health crises, government legislation, and a dedicated team at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Quick Summary

The Nutrition Facts label was born from a public health push, formalized by the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. The FDA, under Commissioner David Kessler, guided the content's development, while graphic designer Burkey Belser shaped its iconic visual format.

Key Points

The NLEA of 1990 was the catalyst: The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, mandated the standardized format for the Nutrition Facts label.
The FDA oversaw content development: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was responsible for determining the specific nutrients and values that would be included on the label, a process involving extensive scientific review and public input.
Burkey Belser designed the icon: Graphic designer Burkey Belser is credited with creating the iconic black-and-white, easy-to-read visual layout of the label that first debuted in 1994.
Key team members played a role: FDA officials like Jerold Mande and Bill Hubbard were instrumental in the regulatory development, working to bring the label to fruition within the government framework.
The label evolves with science: The most significant update occurred in 2016 to reflect new nutritional science, highlighting elements like calories and added sugars more prominently.
It is a tool for consumer empowerment: The label was created to provide consumers with clear, consistent information, helping them to make more informed dietary choices in the face of rising chronic health issues.

The Call for Clarity: Public Health and Regulation

Before 1990, food labeling in the United States was inconsistent and often misleading. Nutrition information was only mandatory if a manufacturer made a nutritional claim about a food or if it was fortified. Facing a rise in chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer linked to poor diet, health advocates and government officials pushed for reform. In 1989, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commissioned a study to improve food labeling, based on reports like The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health. The goal was to empower consumers to make informed choices.

The Legislative Mandate: The NLEA of 1990

The pivotal moment came with the passage of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990, a federal law that mandated standardized nutrition labeling for most packaged foods. President George H. W. Bush signed the law on November 8, 1990, giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to enforce consistent and scientifically based labeling. This act was the foundational document that made the label a legal requirement, transforming voluntary action into a public health mandate.

The FDA's Task Force and Scientific Framework

With the NLEA passed, the FDA, led at the time by Commissioner David Kessler, was tasked with creating the practical regulations. A team of dedicated professionals was involved in the intense, multi-year process.

Team Effort: Individuals like Bill Hubbard and Jerold Mande, then with the FDA, are recognized for their tireless work in navigating the complex bureaucracy to establish the final regulations.
Scientific Backing: The team reviewed vast amounts of scientific data and considered public comments to determine which nutrients were most important to public health. This led to the establishment of Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) and Daily Reference Values (DRVs) for vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients.

The Designer's Touch: Burkey Belser

While the FDA team developed the data and regulatory framework, the visual appearance needed to be clear and accessible to the average consumer. This is where graphic designer Burkey Belser entered the picture. Hired by the FDA, Belser created the minimalist, easy-to-read layout that we know today.

Information Design: Belser and his team used typography, bolding, and simple lines to create a visual hierarchy. Calories, a critical public health metric, were bolded to draw the eye.
Legacy Design: The elegant, factual design earned praise from the design community and became an instantly recognizable icon. Its success led to similar 'facts' panels for other products, including 'Drug Facts' on over-the-counter medicines.

The Evolving Label: From 1994 to 2016

In the more than two decades following its debut, nutritional science advanced, and consumer habits changed. This led to the first major update to the label in over 20 years, finalized in 2016 and required on most food products by January 1, 2020. The changes reflected a greater public health focus on issues like added sugars and realistic serving sizes.

Comparing the Nutrition Facts Labels


Feature	Original 1994 Label	2016 Updated Label
Serving Size	Smaller font, based on older consumption data.	Larger, bolder font to emphasize serving information.
Calories	Listed in standard font.	Larger, bolder font for greater prominence.
Added Sugars	Not separately listed; only 'Sugars' was shown.	Requires a separate line to declare 'Added Sugars' in grams and percent Daily Value.
Nutrients Listed	Required vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.	Required vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium, with actual amounts and percent Daily Value.
Footnote	Explained percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 or 2,500 calorie diet.	Simplified text to more clearly explain percent Daily Value.
'Calories from Fat'	Included in the panel.	Removed, as research showed focusing on the type of fat is more important.

The Impact and Future of Nutritional Transparency

The Nutrition Facts label, though born from legislative action and designed by a graphic artist, represents a broader, collaborative effort to promote public health. Its creation was an acknowledgment that consumers needed clear, standardized information to navigate the food marketplace and make healthier choices. Over the years, revisions have kept the label relevant to evolving scientific knowledge and public health concerns. It stands as a testament to the power of public demand, inter-agency cooperation, and strategic design in influencing the way we eat. The label is a dynamic tool, and future iterations will likely continue to adapt to new dietary science and health priorities. For the latest official information, consumers can refer to the FDA's guidance on the label, which is continuously updated.

Visit the FDA's information on the Nutrition Facts label

The Final Ingredient: Education

Despite its clarity, the label's ultimate effectiveness depends on consumer education. Efforts from public health organizations, dietitians, and educational campaigns continue to help people understand how to interpret serving sizes, daily values, and ingredient lists. By providing a consistent and universal language for nutrition, the label has become an indispensable component of any healthy eating plan.

Conclusion

While a definitive answer to who came up with the Nutrition Facts label? involves many individuals and agencies, the final product is the direct result of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, the scientific guidance of the FDA, and the graphic design expertise of Burkey Belser. This combination of legislative action, scientific rigor, and user-centered design created an accessible tool that has been empowering consumers for decades. It is a powerful example of how government regulation, informed by science and public demand, can shape a widespread product to serve a vital public health function.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990 is a U.S. federal law that mandated standardized nutrition labeling on most packaged foods regulated by the FDA.

The NLEA was signed into law on November 8, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush.

The iconic black and white Nutrition Facts label, as a mandatory item on packaged goods, first appeared in May 1994, after the regulations from the NLEA were finalized.

The 2016 update made several changes, including increasing the prominence of calorie and serving size information, adding a line for 'Added Sugars', and updating the list of vitamins and minerals required.

Yes, FDA staff members like Jerold Mande and Bill Hubbard were key figures in the team that worked to develop and implement the regulations outlined by the NLEA.

The label was a response to growing public health concerns about diet-related chronic illnesses and a lack of clear, consistent nutritional information on food packages.

A graphic designer, Burkey Belser, was brought in to ensure the complex nutritional data was presented in a clear, easy-to-read, and accessible format for consumers with varying levels of health literacy.