Dive Brief:
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The FDA projects it will cost food companies around $2 billion to comply with the new label standards introduced on Thursday.
- The proposed guidelines are not yet final. The FDA will take comments for 90 days, and a final rule could take another year.
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The food industry would get an additional two years after that in to reach compliance with the new guidelines.
Dive Insight:
The new guidelines highlight key components in food and beverages, including those consumers might want to avoid, like added sugars. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner, believes that the label highlights will have a "demonstrative public health benefit." Companies will have an incentive to adjust ingredients' proportions to arrive at acceptable-looking numbers, and customers will ultimately benefit from more healthy products.