US Label Standards

Owned by Nate Edwards
Last updated: Nov 04, 2019 by Jill Hohnstein (Unlicensed)

Label Standards as of 2016

The US released final regulations updating Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts panels for foods and supplements in May 2016. The changes reflect scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease, and it is felt the new labels will make it easier for consumers to make better informed choices.

The new regulations are actually covered in two Federal Register notices, one for updating the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels and one for updating the RACC (Recommended Amounts Customarily Consumed) serving sizes. The timing and effective dates cover them both.

Final regulations were published in the Federal Register: May 27, 2016
Effective date: July 26, 2016
Compliance date for food companies with over $10 mil in annual food sales: July 26, 2018. Compliance date for food companies with under $10 mil in annual food sales: July 26, 2019

The following chart summarizes the changes in nutritional standards between the pre-existing and the new labels for Adults and children > 4 years. The nutrients are listed in the order required on the Nutrition Facts label. The Supplement Facts label uses the same nutrient standards but a somewhat different nutrient order.


Label Nutrient

Regulation Change (C)

New Regulations

 

Pre-existing Regulations



Mandatory/
Voluntary

Daily Value


Mandatory/
Voluntary

Daily Value

Calories

C

M

-


M

-

Calories from Fat

C




M

-

Calories from Saturated Fat


V

-


V

-

Total Fat

C

M

78 gm


M

65 gm

Saturated Fat


M

20 gm


M

20 gm

Trans Fat


M

-


M

-

Polyunsaturated Fat


V

-


V

-

Monounsaturated Fat


V

-


V

-

Cholesterol


M

300 mg


M

300 mg

Sodium

C

M

2300 mg


M

2400 mg

Fluoride

C

V

-




Total Carbohydrate

C

M

275 gm


M

300 gm

Dietary Fiber

C

M

28 gm


M

25 gm

Soluble Fiber

C

V

-


V

-

Insoluble Fiber

C

V

-


V

-

Total Sugars


M

-


M

-

Added Sugars

C

M

50 gm




Sugar Alcohol


V

-


V

-

Other Carbohydrate

C




V

-

Protein


M

50 gm


M

50 gm

Vitamin D

C

M

20 mcg


V

400 IU

Calcium

C

M

1300 mg


M

1000 mg

Iron


M

18 mg


M

18 mg

Potassium

C

M

4700 mg


V

3500 mg

Vitamin A

C

V

900 mcg RAE


M

5000 IU

Vitamin C

C

V

90 mg


M

60 mg

Vitamin E

C

V

15 mg  
a-tocopherol


V

30 IU

Vitamin K

C

V

120 mcg


V

80 mcg

Thiamin

C

V

1.2 mg


V

1.5 mg

Riboflavin

C

V

1.3 mg


V

1.7 mg

Niacin

C

V

16 mg NE


V

20 mg

Vitamin B6

C

V

1.7 mg


V

2 mg

Folate/Folic Acid

C

V

400 mcg DFE


V

400 mcg

Vitamin B12

C

V

2.4 mcg


V

6 mcg

Biotin

C

V

30 mcg


V

300 mcg

Pantothenic Acid

C

V

5 mg


V

10 mg

Phosphorus

C

V

1250 mg


V

1000 mg

Iodine


V

150 mcg


V

150 mcg

Magnesium

C

V

420 mg


V

400 mg

Zinc

C

V

11 mg


V

15 mg

Selenium

C

V

55 mcg


V

70 mcg

Copper

C

V

0.9 mg


V

2 mg

Manganese

C

V

2.3 mg


V

2 mg

Chromium

C

V

35 mcg


V

120 mcg

Molybdenum

C

V

45 mcg


V

75 mcg

Chloride

C

V

2300 mg


V

3400 mg

Choline

C

V

550 mg




Source: Adapted from the CFR 101.9. For more information visit

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a94277d83556d01a86b5728b2f66fb7b&mc=true&node=se21.2.101_19&rgn=div8