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Beverage industry to state calories on front of package, vending machines |
02.19.2010
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WASHINGTON-In response to the First Lady Michelle Obama's healthy families initiative, America's non-alcoholic beverage companies say they'll state the calories clearly on the front of all their packages, vending machines and fountain machines.
The voluntary commitment contributes to Mrs. Obama's efforts to help families make informed choices as part of a balanced lifestyle, according to a prepared statement from American Beverage Association, the trade association that represents beverage manufacturers and distributors of non-alcoholic beverages.
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The companies will coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration to implement the calorie initiative, which will go above and beyond what is required by the federal agency's food labeling regulations. The industry will start implementing the initiative across the country this year with completion in 2012.
The beverage industry, according to the statement, is also reducing beverage calories in the marketplace through smaller portion sizes.
The industry said it will coordinate with the FDA on its new calorie labeling initiative to ensure that the information on the front and back of a package is consistent. Also, industry supports the FDA evaluating serving sizes for the entire food and beverage industry as part of their current review of food labels.
The beverage industry is going to voluntarily explore other fact-based labeling on its packages, such as the feasibility of expanding the current information for percent of Daily Value, currently found in the Nutrition Facts Panel of all packaged foods and beverages, to include other nutrients and also put this information on the front of labels where relevant.
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