Update as of May 8, 2025
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the public comment period for its proposed rule on Front-of-Package (FOP) Nutrition Labeling by 60 days, giving stakeholders until July 15, 2025, to provide feedback. This extension responds to public requests for more time to weigh in on the proposal.
Why FOP Nutrition Labeling Matters
Chronic diet-related diseases—like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are on the rise in the U.S., despite being largely preventable. To help reverse this trend, the FDA aims to empower consumers to make healthier food choices more easily.
Providing clear, easy-to-understand nutrition information on the front of food packages is one way to do that. This effort builds on the familiar Nutrition Facts label by introducing a new, simplified tool: the Nutrition Info box.
What the Proposed Rule Includes
The FDA proposes that most packaged foods must feature a Nutrition Info box on the front of the package. This label would give consumers quick, at-a-glance information about three key nutrients linked to chronic disease risk:
- Saturated fat
- Sodium
- Added sugars
These nutrients would be rated as “Low,” “Med,” or “High,” making it easier for shoppers to evaluate healthfulness quickly—without needing to analyze numbers on the back panel.
Note: Calories would not be required in the Nutrition Info box but can be added voluntarily, as allowed by current FDA regulations.
How It Helps
The Nutrition Info box is designed to:
- Help consumers identify healthier options at a glance.
- Allow easy comparison between similar products, like different yogurt brands or snack bars.
- Support dietary guidance that encourages limiting saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
The new labeling scheme could become as iconic and influential as the original Nutrition Facts label first introduced in the 1990s.
Consumer Research and Stakeholder Engagement
Before issuing the proposed rule for public comment, the FDA undertook extensive research and outreach to better understand how Front-of-Package (FOP) nutrition labeling would impact consumers.
On November 16, 2023, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA hosted a public meeting focused on FOP labeling. During the event, the FDA shared an overview of the initiative and welcomed feedback from a range of stakeholders.
Research That Informed the Proposal
The proposed Nutrition Info box is grounded in a robust body of evidence developed by the FDA. This includes:
- A scientific literature review
- Consumer focus groups held in 2022 and 2023
- A peer-reviewed experimental study conducted in 2023 involving nearly 10,000 U.S. adults
The 2023 experimental study tested consumer reactions to three different FOP labeling formats. The goal was to determine which version most effectively helped participants evaluate the healthfulness of foods based on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content.
Results showed that a black-and-white Nutrition Info box featuring percent Daily Value scores enabled consumers to make the quickest and most accurate assessments when comparing food products.
Available Research and Reports
The FDA has made its research findings publicly accessible. These include:
- Front-of-Package Focus Groups – 2022
- Front-of-Package Focus Groups-2 – 2023
- Experimental Study Report – 2024
- 60-Day Procedural Notice: Quantitative research on FOP labeling for packaged foods
- 30-Day Procedural Notice:
- Screeners, pretests, and experimental tools
- Supporting statements, supplementary materials, and public comments
Source: United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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