In the closing days of the Biden administration, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (Nutrition Action’s publisher) saw a rush of good news that could make it easier for us to eat safer, healthier foods. 

Red 3 dye

The FDA banned the cancer-causing food dye Red 3 in foods, supplements, and ingested drugs, 35 years after the agency banned Red 3 in cosmetics. The move came in response to a petition CSPI filed in 2022 and our successful campaign to ban the dye in California in 2023. I’ve worked on Red 3 for more than 40 years, and it’s good to finally see the dye in the rearview mirror.

Front-of-package labels

The FDA proposed a rule requiring front labels of packaged foods to show whether the foods are high, medium, or low in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.  

CSPI first petitioned the FDA to require clear and concise front-of-package labels in 2006, then again in 2022. 

While “high in” labels only on foods that have too much sat fat, sodium, or added sugars would likely be more effective, the FDA’s proposal would greatly improve the status quo. 

“Healthy” claims

The FDA updated its criteria for foods that voluntarily make a “healthy” claim. Under the new rule, which limits added sugars, “healthy” foods must provide servings of fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, or low-fat or fat-free dairy. Also allowed: bottles of oils (like olive and most other vegetable oils) that are predominantly unsaturated. 

Though few foods now make “healthy” claims, it’s a step forward. 

Alcohol labels

The Treasury Department proposed a rule that would require most alcoholic beverages to carry a Nutrition Facts-like label showing the percent alcohol by volume, alcohol content in fluid ounces, and calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates per serving. (Sugars would be optional.) A second rule would require labels to disclose major food allergens.

It’s about time. In 2003, CSPI petitioned the Treasury to require similar disclosures. And in 2022, we and two other consumer groups sued the department for 19 years of inaction on our petition.

Alcohol is linked to 178,000 deaths each year caused by car crashes, liver disease, heart disease, and cancer. And alcoholic beverages account for nearly 10 percent of the calories consumed by adults who drink. There’s no reason to let companies keep us in the dark about what they’re selling. 

We’ll push to strengthen the proposed rules and make them final. There is no success without persistence.