Breaking Down the New Nutrition Facts Rules - Part 1 of 3
Breaking Down the New Nutrition Facts Rules
Part 1: RACC, Dietary Fiber and Added Sugars
Posted by Dan Berg, Food Scientist, Analytical Services Manager
2020 is the year that compliance went into effect for the new Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts Rules for FDA regulated foods and supplements from large food companies. After the rules were first published in 2016, its implementation has been a series of fits and starts, and with our attention drawn so many ways, it may help to stop and walk through the major changes, consider the subsequent guidance documents and review how prepared you are to current requirements.
Based on commonly asked questions we’ve received, I prepared this series on some of the more complicated issues and some related manners to consider for manufacturers in their efforts to meet the current regulations for Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts panels. In this first part of the 3 part series, I will discuss RACCs, Dietary Fiber and Added Sugars.
Refer to the RACCs (Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed)
Several categories of beverages, dairy, and bakery products are among those that have updates to their Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACC). So, what does that mean to your label? The new rules define when a product is considered a single serving or would require dual-column labeling depending on the product’s size and the applicable RACC. Because of these changes, some products marketed as Zero Calories, Low Sodium, Fat-Free, etc., may not be able to make those claims with a larger serving size. Alternatively, the change in RACC may allow for a higher declaration of some beneficial nutrients.
Review your fiber claim with the new FDA definition
FDA through a curveball in a redefinition of dietary fiber, which now includes this stipulation: “…isolated or synthetic non-digestible carbohydrates (with three or more monomeric units) determined by FDA to have physiological effects that are beneficial to human health.”
No longer does an analysis define what is considered fiber, but rather the sources need to be considered and complemented by analytical data. Seven isolated or synthetic fibers were originally named as meeting this criteria then through additional reviews and several citizen petitions, we have clearance on another ten, including some broad categories. So many of the marketed fiber products are on the list now, but not all of them. Some common products like isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO), RS3 Resistant Starches, Xanthan, and Acacia Gum are considered non-digestible carbohydrates and not dietary fiber. It’s worth checking your formulas to see if everything can be included.
Added sugar from dairy sources
Although whey powder may contain levels of around 75% sugar, FDA clarified that milk-based ingredients are not considered added sugar. Only the purified lactose is considered as added sugar. Even if lactase is used, to hydrolyze the lactose to glucose and galactose, making it more tolerable and sweeter in the process, those sugars are not considered added. Rules around fruit-based ingredients have drawn the most attention, and processes like fermentation which may alter the sugar content from formulation to the consumed product are also a detail to consider. A good understanding of the regulations or seeking expert advice can avoid miscalculations of this new nutrient declaration.
Next time we will go over some of the big changes to Vitamins.
With many changes on the horizon, Eurofins experts are available to provide advice on testing programs and how to properly calculate your nutrient declarations that align with the new regulations.
References
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/changes-nutrition-facts-label
Industry Resources on the Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/industry-resources-changes-nutrition-facts-label
