US Federal Laws affecting Food Labeling

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring that food sold to the public is properly labeled. The food labeling authority of the FDA falls under several federal laws including: The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906); Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938); the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (1966); and the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (1990). The Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the use of false or misleading food labels. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act established food “Standards of Identity” and mandated the required information that must be on a food label. With the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, packages were required to include product identity, package net quantity, and manufacturer/distributor details. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act made nutrition labels on most foods a requirement and established rules and definitions of nutrient content and health claims.