Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Statement on FDA's Front-of-Package Labeling

January 14, 2025 – Harlivleen “Livleen” Gill, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND, President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, released the following statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) recently announced standardized front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling system.

“The FDA's move to introduce standardized front-of-package nutrition labeling will make key nutritional information more accessible and easier for consumers to understand. In addition to the full Nutrition Facts label, this new signage will offer a quick overview, helping consumers identify foods that support healthy eating habits and enabling them to make informed choices.

While this development marks a significant step toward improving the accessibility of nutrition information, it should be noted that this change reflects broad, high-level guidance following federal dietary standards. The labeling scheme is grounded in current nutrition science, but it is important to remember that health is not one-size-fits-all.

To provide personalized dietary guidance, it's essential to look beyond just a few ingredients and calorie counts. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) takes into account factors such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic background, and health history, among others, to develop customized food and nutrition recommendations.

As the FDA rolls out this new labeling requirement, RDNs will help enhance the success of food packaging in improving U.S. public health by continuing to support nutrition literacy and ensuring consumers have the dietary information they need at the individual level.”

About the Academy
Representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.