Blumenthal & Schakowsky Introduce New Bicameral Front-of-Package Food Labeling Legislation to Bolster Americans' Health

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced new bicameral legislation to provide American consumers with clear information about the nutritional content of foods and beverages. The Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness (TRUTH) in Labeling Act would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new front-of-package labels for foods and beverages sold in the United States.

“This measure ensures foods have clear front-of-package labels that highlight high levels of concerning nutrients,” said Blumenthal. “Standard in many other countries, front-of-package labels help consumers have accurate, interpretive information about the food they buy. With prominently displayed salt, sugar, and saturated fat content, consumers will be able to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.”

“Food companies have led the American people astray for too long. If consumers could see how much sodium, sugar, and saturated fat is in their food, they might think twice about what they are purchasing,” said Schakowsky. “I am proud to introduce the TRUTH in Labeling Act with Senator Blumenthal. Our bill will create a consumer-friendly nutrition labeling system on the front of food packages. A poor diet is one of the leading causes of preventable disease in the U.S. We must do all we can to create transparency in food labeling and empower consumers to make informed dietary decisions.”

A recent survey shows front-of-package nutrition labeling has broad support from U.S. consumers, with 75 percent of respondents in favor of a mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling policy.

The TRUTH in Labeling Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require a standardized front-of-package nutrition label that helps consumers differentiate between foods of greater or lesser nutritional value. The labels must also show the amount of calories a food contains. With Americans’ consumption of salt, sugar, and saturated fat far exceeding recommended levels and linked to various chronic diseases, the new labels would be required to have clear information about nutrients of concern, including salt, sugar, and saturated fat to help consumers make healthier choices. The Nutrition Facts labels will still be displayed on the back or side of the package. The legislation allows FDA the flexibility to determine the specific format of the labels, but suggests several considerations for their implementation, including enabling consumers to quickly and easily understand the label and encouraging FDA to evaluate the effectiveness of the labeling system. 

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA).

The TRUTH in Labeling Act is endorsed by a number of advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Advocates for Children's Diets, Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, ChangeLab Solutions, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Corporate Accountability, Food & Water Watch, Hattie Maw & Pals Foundation, Healthy Food America, Interfaith Public Health Network, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Nurses, National Center for Health Research, Public Health Advocacy Institute, Redstone Global Center for Prevention & Wellness, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, Society for Behavioral Medicine, and Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior.

“It’s about time that the United States joins our neighboring countries in adopting simple, mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling,” said CSPI Executive Director and President, Peter Lurie. “The TRUTH in Labeling Act will make nutrition information more accessible to all consumers and prompt industry to create healthier foods. We’re thrilled that lawmakers are taking concrete steps to address the epidemic of diet-related disease and to transform our food supply.”

The Senate version of the bill is available here. A similar version of the bill was introduced in the House.

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