Newswise — Proposed changes to nutrition labels on packaged foods and beverages are a great idea, a University of Florida professor in nutrition and health says, though they will likely be a big reality check for consumers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new serving-size listings that more accurately reflect what people eat and drink in a single serving, and they could prove to be a “reality check” for those who, in the past, haven’t done the math and don’t quite realize the number of calories they are consuming, said Linda Bobroff, a UF professor in family, youth and community sciences.
For example, one 20-ounce soda would be labeled as one serving, rather than 2.5 servings.
“What I think the FDA is betting on is that the reality check is more important than the normalizing of these larger servings,” she said. “I think a lot of people just skip over that, they don’t do the math to figure out how many calories were actually in those two and a half servings they’ve just eaten.”
The FDA is also proposing changes to nutrition labels that would replace vitamins A and C with potassium and Vitamin D, nutrients of concern for those, like Bobroff, trying to ensure Americans stay healthy.
Bobroff leads UF/IFAS Extension programs that address the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as promoting overall nutrition and health.
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