S. 2462: Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness in Labeling Act

The "Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness in Labeling Act," also known as the TRUTH in Labeling Act, aims to enhance food labeling requirements regarding nutrition information. Here’s a summary of what the bill entails:

Purpose of the Bill

The bill seeks to inform consumers better about the nutritional content of food products, particularly regarding added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat. The intent is to provide clearer information to support healthier food choices, especially among populations with lower nutrition literacy.

Key Findings

• Many Americans consume excessive amounts of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat, which can lead to health issues like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Studies indicate that clear labeling, especially on the front of packages, can lead to healthier purchasing choices.
• People with lower education and income levels tend to use nutrition labels less frequently, suggesting simpler labels could help these consumers.
• Effective front-of-package labels might drive food manufacturers to reformulate products to make them healthier.
• There is a concern regarding non-nutritive sweeteners and their recommendation against consumption by children.

Labeling Requirements

The bill mandates specific labeling changes that must be implemented within 180 days after the bill's enactment. The requirements include:

• Highlighting Unhealthy Ingredients: Food meant for human consumption must display labels indicating high amounts of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat prominently on the front of the package. Each nutrient will have its label, which will include the phrase “High in” alongside a clear exclamation point icon.
• Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Statement: If applicable, labels must also disclose if non-nutritive sweeteners are present and indicate that these sweeteners are not recommended for children, placed near the high content labels.
• Children's Food Labelling: The requirements for labeling also specifically extend to foods labeled for infants and children aged 1 to 3 years old, with some exceptions for infant formula.

Daily Reference Values

The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish Daily Reference Values for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat, specifically for infants through 12 months and update them for children aged 1 to 3, based on the latest Dietary Guidelines.

If there are any delays in determining these values, the Secretary is still required to finalize the new labeling rules promptly without waiting for the reference values to be established.

Limitations

The bill allows for the Secretary to revise existing nutrient content claims for sodium in response to updated nutrition science, which could involve changing limits on what is considered “low sodium” in food products.

Implementation Timeline

All changes mandated by this bill are to be finalized within 180 days from its enactment, ensuring a swift transition to the new labeling requirements.

Relevant Companies

• KO (Coca-Cola Company): As a major manufacturer of beverages high in sugar, Coca-Cola will likely need to adjust its product labeling to comply with the new requirements.
• PEP (PepsiCo, Inc.): Similar to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo offers many food and drink products with significant sugar and sodium content, which will necessitate changes in labeling practices.
• MCD (McDonald's Corporation): McDonald's will need to adapt its packaging for numerous food items to meet the labeling requirements concerning high sodium and fat levels.