The history of monitoring and labeling food dates back many years. But there has been a dramatic increase in the progression of food labels during the past two decades.
Food and Drug Administration Act
In 1988, the Food and Drug Administration was officially established. This agency is responsible for creating and enforcing food label laws.
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act
This law, enacted in 1990, requires all food to have nutritional information labeled on the product. In addition, it forces manufacturers to print any health claims the food provides to be printed on the package.
Nutrition Facts
In 1992, the FDA recreated the food label to list the most important nutrients in an easy to follow format. This was done based on the latest public health research.
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
This act, established in 1994, classifies dietary supplements as food. It requires specific labeling for these products.
Trans Fat
The FDA began requiring trans fat be listed on the nutrition label in 2003. This was the first change in the nutrition label since 1992 and was done to help consumers choose foods that are heart healthy.
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