Two Florida lawmakers are pushing to tighten the rules on what food companies can claim on the back of a package. Under current federal guidelines, the calorie counts, sugar levels, and sodium amounts listed on nutrition labels can legally be off by as much as 20%. A new bipartisan bill introduced in Washington seeks to slash that margin of error down to 5%.
U.S. Reps. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.) filed the Ensuring Consistency in Nutrition Labels Act today. The legislation would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to mandate stricter accuracy from manufacturers. If the actual nutrient content in a food item deviates by more than 5% from what is printed on the label, the product would be considered “misbranded” under the new law.
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Steube argues that the current allowance for error creates a blind spot for families trying to make informed decisions at the grocery store.
“Americans have a right to accurate information about the food products they buy,” Steube said. “While families are making healthier choices about the food they eat, it is unacceptable that food manufacturers are allowed a 20% margin of error for the nutrition labels on their products.”
For Rep. Soto, the issue goes beyond general wellness and touches on specific medical safety. He highlighted the risks “misbranded” content poses for individuals with diabetes or those monitoring sodium intake due to health conditions.
“Food companies often take advantage of relaxed regulations,” Soto said. “This bill will reduce the deviation threshold to promote consistency and build consumer trust.”
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The proposal has already garnered industry support from the Honest Food Council. Following a December meeting with the lawmakers, the Council’s president, Benno Tross, described the current 20% threshold as “outdated.”
“Updating the outdated 20% threshold to 5% is a timely, common-sense change that reflects today’s marketplace and today’s expectations for transparency,” Tross stated.
The text of the bill outlines a tight timeline for implementation. If enacted, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would have 60 days to revise FDA regulations to reflect the stricter 5% cap.
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