December 2023 - Volume 23, Number 22

Happy Holidays! With holiday menus and seasonal treats on our mind, we dedicate this issue to demystifying the unique Nutrition Facts labeling you may come across as you prepare your maple glazed carrots and cranberry citrus punch. FDA has specific allowances that apply to certain holiday ingredients, which we’re hashing out for you today. And as always, we’re keeping you current with the latest industry news and updates from our Insiders community.

"You have found a niche and fulfill a need in the food industry. We have utmost confidence in your expertise and refer our clients who require nutrition labeling or advice on package labeling regulations that are unclear."
— Patricia Groves, Co-President, Groves & Company

You've probably grown accustomed to seeing “added sugars” values on food labels, a change that took effect in 2016 when FDA revamped the Nutrition Facts label. While this addition has been well-received by industry and consumers alike, there are some food products for which these values may be confusing. In these instances, the regulations allow for alternative labeling options within the Nutrition Facts label.

Special provisions apply to pure maple syrup, honey, sugar, and other single-ingredient sweeteners. What makes these products exempt? Consider the various types of maple syrup available for purchase. Pure maple syrup is produced from tapping maple trees and boiling down maple sap, whereas maple-flavored products use sugar or corn syrup as the base. The concern with declaring added sugars in pure maple syrup is that labeling “Xg added sugars” may suggest to consumers that there is added sugar or corn syrup, versus being a pure maple syrup product.

For this reason, the 2018 Farm Bill requires that FDA make an “added sugars” exemption for sweeteners such as maple syrup. It's important to note that while these products are not required to include the gram value for added sugars, the exemption does not apply to % Daily Value (%DV). The sugar in these products still contribute to the consumer's total daily value; thus, the %DV must be listed.

There are also allowances for declaring added sugars in cranberry products. When sweeteners are added to any dried fruit or juice – including cranberry products – they are considered added sugars and must be declared in the Nutrition Facts label. Unlike other fruit products, cranberry juice and dried cranberries require added sugars to make this naturally tart, low sugar fruit palatable to consumers. After the sweeteners are added, the total sugar value is comparable to that of other unsweetened dried fruits and juices. To help consumers make this comparison, some cranberry products are allowed to add a special symbol (†) and statement near the Nutrition Facts label describing the necessity of added sugars. This statement may read something like, “The sugars added to this cranberry beverage are meant to increase the palatability of the naturally tart fruit. The amount of total sugars per serving does not exceed the amount of total sugars in a comparable product with no added sugars.”

Here are example labels for honey and cranberry juice with these special labeling provisions:

Linear Nutrition Facts label example for single-ingredient sugars, syrups, and honey with only a %DV declaration for Added Sugars.

Some cranberry products are allowed to add a special symbol (†) next to the Added Sugars %DV and a corresponding statement near the Nutrition Facts label.

It's gratifying to mastermind with colleagues who share an interest and curiosity for food labeling and regulations. Our Insider community's discussions are filled with intellectual dialogue, with some humor laced in to keep things enjoyable.

In November's Office Hours session, we discussed how to declare Vitamin K2, Constancias for Mexico, and pet food labeling. We also discussed recent litigations within the industry and the importance of accurate label claims, including "real" and "less than" statements. Our group joked that we should call our Office Hours sessions "Water Cooler Talk." We all value the opportunity to chit chat with colleagues virtually, especially if we don't have colleagues to collaborate with in-person. 

Our next enrollment period is just around the corner in February 2024. Now is a great time to start discussing a membership with your employer and start figuring a new membership into your 2024 budget. Be sure to sign up for our waitlist for early bird registration and exclusive discounts.

• EPA, FDA, and USDA draft national strategy on food waste
• Health Canada seeks comments on modernizing regulatory guidelines for infant foods and foods with special dietary uses 
• FDA publishes literature review on NAC
• FDA releases compliance guide for recent changes to yogurt standards

Food Label News, now in its 24th year, is a monthly e-newsletter reaching over 10,000 subscribers around the world. We cover news and insights about what matters most in food labels. You may reprint all or part of this newsletter provided you attribute it to Food Label News and include a link to www.foodlabels.com.  

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