American Bakers Association applauds FDA for delaying nutrition facts label rule

15-Jun-2017 - Last updated on 16-Jun-2017 at 13:56 GMT

The US FDA has delayed the implementation date of the nutrition facts label. Pic: ©iStock/i-frontier

Robb MacKie, president of American Bakers Association (ABA), said a “more reasonable” timeline for the implementation of the FDA’s nutrition facts label will help bakers.

The FDA has announced it will extend the compliance date for the nutrition facts label rule (originally set at July 2018 for larger forms and July 2019 for smaller ones), although it has not provided a new date. The organization said the additional time will help manufacturers complete and print updated nutrition facts panels for their products before they are expected to be in compliance.

Speakers at the American Conference Institute food law and regulation forum in Chicago last month predicted the deadline could be extended to 2021.

Reducing consumer confusion

ABA was not available immediately for an interview. However, MacKie said in a statement the delay “will provide consumers with the tools to reduce confusion around food labels.

“Due to myriad labeling changes, bakers and other food manufacturers have been seeking a commonsense implementation timeframe to diffuse consumer confusion.

“Bakers are eager to receive complete information and final guidance from FDA, so that we are able to get started with nutrition labeling revisions to provide clear, concise information for American consumers,” he added.

Read the FDA's statement on the compliance date HERE and get reaction from other stakeholders HERE.