Several food industry trade groups are asking that updates to the Nutrition Facts label on food products be delayed until May 2021, citing a need for more time to avoid wasteful spending on duplicative efforts and to allow FDA to issue guidance on implementing the rules.
The organizations also argue that USDA needs additional time to complete work on a separate rule mandating disclosure of ingredients produced with biotechnology.
The current compliance deadline for the Nutrition Facts and Service Size rules is July 26, 2018.
The groups, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Food Marketing Institute and North American Meat Institute, made the request in a letter sent to Dr. Thomas Price, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The letter was posted on the website of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
The organizations note that to change every food package in the United States requires testing and analyzing products, entering ingredient information into databases, and new label and packaging designs.
The Food and Drug Administration has yet to issue final guidance on how to define and calculate dietary fiber and added sugar, the letter states.
It also points out that USDA is mandated to finish the biotech disclosure rule by July 29, 2018, three days after the Nutrition Facts compliance date, meaning product labels will need to be redesigned again.