The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued on April 7th to the food industry regarding food labeling.  This guidance is a summary ()  of the required statements that must appear on food labels under these laws and their regulations. The guidance is intended to inform companies about the applicable labeling laws and regulations required of foods being offered for distribution in the United States.

The FDA is responsible for assuring that foods sold in the United States are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. This applies to foods produced domestically, as well as foods from foreign countries.

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act are the Federal laws governing food products under FDA's jurisdiction.  The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), which amended the FD&C Act requires most foods to bear nutrition labeling and requires food labels that bear nutrient content claims and certain health messages to comply with specific requirements.  Under FDA's laws and regulations, FDA does not pre-approve labels for food products. --James R. Gorny, Ph.D.