The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a major overhaul of nutrition labeling in the United States, including interpretive nutrition messaging on the principal display panel to help consumers make quicker dietary choices.
If passed, front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling would mark substantial changes in the way consumers choose their groceries and how food manufacturers label their products.
The United States isn’t the first country to consider FOP labeling. It’s actually somewhat behind. According to the University of North Carolina, 17 countries have already begun enforcing mandatory front-of-package nutrient labeling requirements, which the World Health Organization recommends as one of the best ways to promote a healthy diet and control and prevent the burden of diet-related diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
As industry bodies consider feedback to the proposed FOP labeling rule, we examine what these changes could mean for food and beverage manufacturers.
At a Glance: Major Food Labeling Changes May Be Coming
Key Takeaways:
- The FDA’s proposal would require most packaged foods to display a standardized “Nutrition Info” box on the front of the product.
- The FOP nutrition label proposes low-, medium-, or high classifications for nutrients linked to chronic disease to enable healthier comparisons at the point of purchase.
- FOP labeling would be the most significant change to U.S. food-package nutrition disclosures since the Nutrition Facts label was mandated in 1990.
- If adopted, substantial compliance costs may include packaging redesigns, label review, and potential reformulations to avoid “High” designations.
What Are the Proposed Nutrition Label Changes?
The FDA has proposed FOP package labels for most packaged foods that would classify the nutritional content of food in terms of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars as Low, Medium, or High, based on the percentage of the Daily Value per serving.
It aims to make nutritional information more visible and easier to understand than the percentages currently shown on the Nutrition Facts label.
The proposal for FOP labeling in the United States stemmed from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a food and health watchdog whose larger mission is “improving the food system to support healthy eating.” Supporters include organizations like the Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists.
Clearly, there’s an interest in implementing these changes among nutrition-minded organizations. But what do they hope to accomplish?
Why Make Changes to Nutrition Labels at All?
Research shows that current Nutrition Facts panels create confusion for consumers or are ignored, despite several decades of supportive public health research, consumer behavior studies, and international regulatory efforts.
While Nutrition Facts panels provide detailed information, many consumers:
- Don’t read them consistently
- Have difficulty comparing products quickly
- Make purchasing decisions in just a few seconds
FOP labels are one of the levers advocates use to influence consumer choices that lead to “generally poor diet quality and high rates of diet-related chronic disease,” according to the CSPI.
While such dietary changes would certainly be a win for public health, not everyone agrees that nutrition labels are an effective means of nudging consumer behavior.
Do Nutrition Label Changes Really Make People Healthier?
Several attempts have been made to improve Americans’ health by changing nutrition label requirements, but finally, global research on FOP nutrition labels suggests they support healthier food choices and may prompt processed foods to reduce unhealthy nutrient content.
The definitions of “healthy” — and even “ultra-processed” — are hotly disputed in the food industry and impact FDA Dietary Guidelines.
But just how much should we expect from nutrition labels when it comes to public health? Instead of assuming nutrition labels are a magic bullet for behavior change, even small-scale impacts are likely to make these changes worthwhile. For instance, Chileans bought substantially less sugar, less sodium, less saturated fat, and fewer total calories after FOP warning labels were introduced.
How Would These Changes Affect Food and Beverage Manufacturers?
The FDA’s FOP nutrition labeling initiative would create major packaging management issues for food and beverage manufacturers by requiring redesign of the front panel for every affected SKU.
For food manufacturers, retailers, and private-label brands, the proposal would likely require packaging redesigns, label reviews, and potential product reformulations to avoid unfavorable front-of-pack “High” designations.
Because these changes are much more involved than adding a small stamp or symbol, they may be an expensive and time-consuming proposition for food and beverage manufacturers.
While this shift would be dramatic, it wouldn’t be the first time the industry has had to adapt. Consumer demand, regulations, and other factors have always influenced how information appears on product labels, and manufacturers have long worked to keep up with these symbols, stamps, and certifications.
Would These FOP Changes Affect the Price of Label Printing?
Forecasting label printing fees under the proposed ruling is difficult given how much remains unknown; however, if regulations called for changes to label size or the addition of colors, manufacturers’ per-label price would likely be affected. But if the proposed regulations turn out to be nothing more than a matter of rearranging the same existing elements, then the cost of printing would not change.
How Should Brands Prepare for Possible Front-of-Package Changes to Nutrition Labels?
With so much uncertainty in what the FOP changes will look like, food brands selling in the United States may want to sit tight until the Federal Register publishes the final rule. Industry observers predict that a final rule may be issued sometime in 2026; however, the proposed Low/Medium/High format may be modified or reconsidered altogether.
Once the final rule is published, food manufacturers will begin planning front-panel redesigns, creating demand for artwork updates, regulatory reviews, and printing changes.
Given the anticipated proposal to highlight added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat on packaging, food categories that are likely to experience the largest label-update volume include:
- Salty snacks
- Breakfast cereals and granola
- Cookies, crackers, and baked snacks
- Frozen prepared foods
- Condiments and sauces
- Yogurt and dairy desserts
- Candy and confectionery
- Private-label grocery products
Right now, U.S. brands have a unique opportunity to stand out as early adopters of front-of-package labeling. For health-conscious brands especially, touting nutritional information on the front of a package is a bold way to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
Also, the international market is already trending in this direction, including Canada adopting FOP regulations in 2026; more countries are expected to follow. Manufacturers selling in these markets are likely already adapting to these new requirements.
How Soon Will Front-of-Package Nutrition Label Requirements Become Law?
Potential changes to nutrition labeling would likely be years away, even if the ruling is issued soon. The FDA is currently reviewing more than 13,000 comments to the proposal and conducting internal revisions. There may also be an additional administrative review step if the rule is passed before it is published in the Federal Register.
Varying Impacts of the Proposal on Food Manufacturers
After publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, the compliance clock begins:
- Companies with more than $10 million in annual food sales generally have three years to comply after the final rule becomes effective.
- Smaller companies generally have four years to comply.
It’s also more typical to see early legislation for these types of efforts begin at the state level and grow over time. As state legislation passes and gains popularity, then it’s likely to happen at a national level — either as the official law of the land, or because enough states have passed legislation that brands find it easier to switch all their labels to the new format. So far, no states have passed FOP rulings.
But for brands looking for an edge over the competition, this question might be moot. By changing to FOP labels now, brands can ensure their products stand out on grocery store shelves.
