Milling & Baking News - January 1, 2008 - 16

Industry Activities

Bakers seek extension in comment
period for nutrition labeling update

report on "Guiding Principles for
Nutrition Labeling and Fortification."
As currently used, D.V.s are established based on two sets of label reference values, Reference Daily Intakes (R.D.I.s) and Daily Reference
Values (D.R.V.s). D.V.s are intended
to help consumers understand the
relative importance of nutritional
information in the context of a daily
diet and also help consumers compare the nutritional values of different food products.
R.D.I.s, one of the two measures
upon which the D.V.s are based,
have roots back to 1968 when Recommended Daily Allowances were
first established by the National
Academy of Sciences. The R.D.A.
levels were revised in 1974, 1980
and 1989, when they were redesignated as R.D.I.s., covering vitamins
and minerals.
D.R.V.s relate to a different group
of nutrients, including macronutrients as well as several micronutrients such as sodium that are excessively consumed. D.R.V.s, which are
based on the N.A.S. Diet and Health
Report, also relate to total caloric
intake. Trans fat, saturated fat and
cholesterol fall under the D.R.V. category. Mincronutrients covered include sodium and potassium.
Many of the questions the F.D.A.
has posed in seeking comments
were based on an I.O.M. 2003 report
offering guiding principles for nutrition labeling:
* Nutrition information in the
Nutrition Facts label should continue to be expressed as a percentage
of Daily Value.
* A population-weighed EAR
(estimated average requirement)
should be the basis for D.V.s for
those nutrients for which EARs
have been identified (reflecting a

hamper the ability of A.B.A. and
other stakeholders to provide the
agency with valuable comments."
In addition to challenges coordinating and organizing comments
among its member companies in a
comment period that spans the holiday season, the A.BA. also cited the
"breadth and depth of the issues"
about which the F.D.A. seeks comment.
Ms. Sanders told Milling & Baking
News the A.B.A. plans to address the
nutrition labeling issue in its January Food Technical Regulatory Affairs committee meeting.
The prospective changes would be
the latest in a series emanating from
the principles derived from the November 1990 Nutrition Labeling and
Education Act, amending the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The 1990 law
was a major
'A.B.A. expects to submit
factor in nutrition labelsubstantial comments to share
ing revisions
with F.D.A. insights gained
made in 1993.
from its members' real-world
Since that
time,
the sciformulation, labeling and
ence of diet
marketing experience.'
and health in- Lee Sanders, senior vice-president, government relations and
formation has
public affairs, American Bakers Association
been updated
because of a
Nutrition Facts and Supplement host of research and a number of
Facts labels. Also, comments are major reports, including the Disought on whether certain nutrients etary Guidelines for Americans; the
should be added or eliminated from Institute of Medicine's (I.O.M.) pubthe Nutrition Facts and Supplemen- lished reports on the Dietary Reference Intakes (D.R.I.s) the update
tal Facts labels.
Comments were requested to be recommendations for the intake of
submitted by Jan. 31, but the A.B.A. vitamins, minerals and macronutrihas asked for a 90-day extension, to ents; the I.O.M report on the appliApril 30. Noting that it represents cation of the D.R.I.s; and the I.O.M.
the interests of companies responsible for 80% of the baked foods purNutrition labeling 'alphabet soup'
chased by U.S. consumers, the association expressed concern about
Discussions of nutrition labeling by the Food and Drug Administration invariably include
the ability to gather and present
an eye-crossing array of acronyms. Those in this article are featured below for reader
representative views by the original
reference:
deadline.
A.M.D.R. - Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges
"A.B.A. expects to submit substanA.N.P.R.M. - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
tial comments to share with F.D.A.
D.R.I.s
- Dietary Reference Intakes
insights gained from its members'
D.V.s
- Daily Values
real-world formulation, labeling
EAR
- Estimated Average Requirement
and marketing experience," said
F.D.A.
- Food and Drug Administration
Lee Sanders, senior vice-president,
I.O.M.
- Institute of Medicine
government relations and public afN.A.S.
- National Academy of Sciences
fairs, A.B.A., in a letter to the F.D.A.
R.D.A.
- Recommended Dietary Allowance
"However, the currently-proposed
R.D.I.
- Reference Daily Intakes
Jan. 31 deadline for comments may
WASHINGTON - Faced with the
challenges of a request for comments amid the winter holiday period, the American Bakers Association is seeking an extension for the
comment period for Food and Drug
Administration rulemaking for nutrition labeling.
As part of what could lead to potentially far-reaching changes in
nutritional information presented
to the public on food packages, the
F.D.A. on Nov. 2 issued an advance
notice of proposed rulemaking in
the Federal Register. The A.N.P.R.M.
was titled "Food Labeling: Revision
of Reference Values and Mandatory
Nutrients."
The 27-page notice seeks comments on what reference values the
agency should use to calculate the
per cent Daily Value (D.V.) in the

16 / January 1, 2008

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Milling & Baking News - January 1, 2008

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