With the FDA’s proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling rule now on the horizon, the food industry is preparing for one of the most significant packaging changes in recent years. While our previous blog explored what this regulation entails and its global precedents, the critical question now becomes: who exactly will this impact, and how?
The answer is virtually everyone involved in the food ecosystem – from multinational manufacturers to corner retailers, and most importantly, the millions of consumers who make food purchasing decisions every day. Understanding these impacts is crucial for stakeholders to prepare effectively for this regulatory shift.
Who is Affected by FDA’s Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling?
The FDA’s proposed rule would apply to most packaged foods regulated by the FDA. This includes:
- Conventional food products sold in retail settings
- Products intended for consumer purchase
- Packaged foods from large and small manufacturers
There are some exemptions, including:
- Certain raw fruits, vegetables, and seafood
- Small packages with limited label space
- Foods intended for further processing
- Foods prepared and sold at retail establishments
- Certain dietary supplements
The rule would impact virtually every stakeholder in the food industry ecosystem:
- Food manufacturers of all sizes would need to comply with the new labeling requirements
- Retailers would need to ensure the products they stock meet the new standards
- Consumers would be presented with new nutritional information in a more accessible format
- Regulatory bodies would be responsible for enforcement and compliance monitoring
- Design and packaging firms would need to adapt their approaches to food packaging
- Health organizations would incorporate the new labeling into nutritional education
What Does It Mean for Consumers?
For consumers, the front-of-package nutrition labeling offers several significant benefits:
Improved Decision-Making
The new labeling system is designed to make it easier for consumers to make informed food choices without having to search for and interpret the more detailed Nutrition Facts panel. With critical nutrition information visible at first glance, consumers can quickly compare products and identify healthier options.
Increased Nutritional Awareness
By highlighting nutrients associated with chronic diseases, the labeling aims to increase consumer awareness of dietary components that should be limited. The visual nature of the labeling makes it more accessible to consumers with varying levels of nutrition literacy.
Health Impact
The FDA estimates that the proposed rule could prevent tens of thousands of cases of heart disease and type 2 diabetes over the next two decades. By encouraging the reformulation of products and helping consumers choose healthier options, the labeling system has the potential to significantly impact public health outcomes.
Consistency and Clarity
A standardized front-of-package system would eliminate the confusion caused by the various voluntary labeling systems currently in use. Consumers would benefit from a consistent approach that uses the same format across different brands and product categories.
What Does It Mean for Manufacturers?
Food manufacturers face both challenges and opportunities with the implementation of the new labeling requirements:
Compliance Requirements
Manufacturers would need to assess their product portfolios against the established thresholds for added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Products exceeding these thresholds would require the front-of-package labeling, which means updating packaging designs and potentially reformulating products.
Implementation Timeline
A finalized FOP rule would require food manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales to add a Nutrition Info box to most packaged food products three years after the final rule’s effective date, with smaller companies receiving an additional year for compliance. This timeline requires manufacturers to begin planning for these changes well in advance.
Product Reformulation Incentives
The visibility of the front-of-package labeling creates a strong incentive for manufacturers to reformulate products to avoid negative labeling. This could lead to healthier food options overall but requires investment in research and development.
Packaging Redesign
The new requirements will necessitate redesigning packaging to incorporate the front-of-package labeling while maintaining brand identity and marketing appeal. This represents both a cost and an opportunity for refreshing product presentation.
Competitive Positioning
Products that naturally meet the healthier thresholds or those that are successfully reformulated may gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace as consumers increasingly seek healthier options.
How TVT’s Content Review Software Can Support This Transition
As food manufacturers prepare for this significant labeling change, an advanced content review software like TVT is invaluable in helping to manage the process of ensuring artwork incorporates the new front-of-package elements properly and that brand identity is maintained while meeting regulatory requirements.
Comprehensive Label Review
TVT’s specialized label review capabilities can help the user ensure that front-of-package nutrition labeling meets all FDA requirements. The software examines artwork and label designs to help the user verify that the correct symbols, language, and formatting are implemented correctly.
Consistency Management Across Product Portfolios
For manufacturers with extensive product lines, maintaining labeling consistency across hundreds or thousands of SKUs presents a significant challenge. TVT provides systematic verification across entire product portfolios, identifying inconsistencies before they become compliance issues.
Regulatory Documentation
TVT generates thorough documentation of the review process, providing manufacturers with valuable audit trails for internal quality assurance and potential regulatory inquiries, helping demonstrate due diligence in compliance efforts.
Efficient Approval Workflows
When implementing structured review and approval workflows, TVT integrates with these workflow tools to help manufacturers efficiently manage the complex process of updating packaging across product lines. This enables teams to meet implementation deadlines without compromising quality.
Conclusion
The FDA’s proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling represents a significant shift in food labeling aimed at improving public health through better informed consumer choices. While presenting implementation challenges for manufacturers, it also creates opportunities for brands to highlight the nutritional benefits of their products.
The success of similar systems in countries such as Chile and Mexico demonstrates the potential for positive health and economic impacts. As the food industry prepares for this transition, tools like TVT can alleviate the struggle of ensuring compliant packaging across product lines. By leveraging such technology, manufacturers can navigate this regulatory change more efficiently while maintaining focus on their core business operations.
For both consumers and manufacturers, this proposed rule signals an important step toward greater transparency in food labeling and potentially healthier food choices for Americans.
[This blog post is based on the FDA’s proposed rule as of June 2025 and is subject to change as the regulatory process continues.]
