“To strengthen requirements related to nutrient information on food labels.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states seven congressional findings regarding excessive U.S. consumption of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat relative to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (7 U.S.C. 5341); the demonstrated benefits of front-of-package labels highlighting those nutrients in improving consumers' food choices, nutritional understanding, and purchases—particularly among those with lower education, income, or nutrition literacy; and evidence that such labels, when also disclosing non-nutritive sweeteners with an advisory for children to avoid them, prompt food industry reformulation to reduce sugars, sodium, saturated fat, and non-nutritive sweeteners.
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to finalize, not later than 180 days after enactment, the proposed rule entitled “Food Labeling: Front-of-Package Nutrition Information” (90 Fed. Reg. 5426 (January 16, 2025)). The final rule must require food (as defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(f)) intended for human consumption and offered for sale to bear front-of-package nutrition labeling on the principal display panel that includes the following: (1) separate labels identifying high amounts of added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat, as applicable—designated with the words “High in” and a conspicuous exclamation point icon—based on Daily Values for adults, children ages 1 to 3 years, and infants through 12 months; and (2) if applicable, a statement declaring the presence of non-nutritive sweeteners adjacent to any “High in” labels, with a factual note that such sweeteners are not recommended for children. Such labeling requirements apply to foods (other than infant formula) represented or purported to be specifically for infants through 12 months of age or children 1 through 4 years of age, notwithstanding the exemption in 21 CFR 101.9(j)(5). The section further requires the Secretary to establish Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat for infants through 12 months of age and to update such values for children 1 to 3 years in alignment with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; if needed to meet the finalization deadline, the Secretary must issue the rule first and revise it as soon as practicable thereafter to incorporate the values. Nothing in the section prevents the Secretary from revising 21 CFR 101.61(b)(4) to update the low sodium nutrient content claim limit to 115 milligrams per reference amount customarily consumed or 21 CFR 101.61(b)(5) to update such limit to 115 milligrams per 100 grams.