Food exporters told to update product labeling

Filipino food exporters were instructed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) to update their labeling in accordance with new rules on serving sizes, daily values and nutrient definitions.

in a letter, philippine Chamber of Commerce and industry Secretary-General Crisanto S. Frianeza reminded local food manufacturers to be proactive in updating the labeling of their products. He said they must start complying now as the required changes could take time to implement.

The new US FDA rules on labeling, which were finalized in 2016, will take effect on January 1, 2020, to large food firms with annual gross sales of $10 million or more, while small businesses will have an additional year to comply.

“The mandated updates to daily values for certain nutrients, such as dietary fiber, will require food manufacturers to readjust certain percent daily values on their labels. in addition, manufacturers will need to account for the daily values of vitamin D and potassium, which have been required on a product’s food label,” the letter read.

Exporters of food and beverage products to the US have to make the changes now, as adjustments to the new rules “will need laboratory tests,” Frianeza argued.

Further, the new US FDA regulations require products with claims, such as “high in” these nutrients and “may reduce the risk of ” certain diseases, now have to contain a specific percentage of the nutrient’s daily value consumed in one serving. in the process, some manufacturers might need to reformulate a product to match the required content of a certain nutrient.

“For example, the new rules increase the daily reference value [DRV] of fiber from 25 [grams] to 28 grams. [The] FDA requires a product to contain 20 percent or more of the DRV per reference amount customarily consumed [RACC] in order to claim it is high in fiber. A product with 5 grams of fiber per 25 gram RACC may claim to be ’high in fiber’ now, but once the new DRV of 28 grams takes effect, it will only contain about 18 percent,” the letter read.

The manufacturer of that product, Frianeza explained, has to be reformulated with more fiber. otherwise, the claim has to be removed from the product by the deadline.

Frianeza urged manufacturers to do their task now to avoid accumulating a surplus of outdated labeling inventory once the new rules are in full swing.

“Food labeling consists of several components. The earlier you begin, the more time you allot for the unexpected and improve the chance of avoiding a surplus of outdated labeling inventory,” the letter concluded.