The Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday that the nutrition labels on the back of your favorite snacks will soon become easier to read.
Over last 20 years, "knowledge about nutrition " has changed and the new labeling system is set up to reflect the updates, which includes revisions based on health experts studies, according to the Associated Press, .
Nutrition labels currently display the number of calories present in a box of food. Yet food officials argue that the amount of added sugar, clarity on serving sizes, and percentage of whole wheat in the food should also be displayed.
"There's a feeling that nutrition labels haven't been as effective as they should be," says Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "When you look at the label, there are roughly two dozen numbers of substances that people aren't intuitively familiar with."
The current nutrition labels are measured in the metric system's basic unit of mass, which Jacobson said is confusing to many individuals. The nutrition labels are reportedly based off of a 20-year-old system.
"It's important to keep this updated so what is iconic doesn't become a relic," Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, said. He also added that "the food environment has changed and our dietary guidance has changed."
Regina Hildwine of the Grocery Manufacturers Association said that breaking down the calories will be more effective for consumers, along with removing the "calories from fat." Nutrition advocates are also hoping companies add clearer measurements and moving the package labeling to the front.
The AP reported that it is unclear when the changes will take place or what other changes the FDA could decide on.
