FDA Postpones Food Labeling Deadline

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") pushed back the deadline for food companies to adopt changes to nutritional labels for packaged foods. Industry stakeholders welcomed the extension amidst concerns over their ability to meet the compliance deadline of July 26, 2018.  The FDA has not yet set a new deadline for label compliance.

In May 2016, the FDA released changes to the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods to include new scientific information and the link between diet and chronic diseases to make it easier for consumers to make healthier decisions about the foods they eat.

The FDA's extension seeks to decrease costs of compliance, and minimize the transition period during which consumers will see both the old and the new versions of the label in the marketplace.