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Around five years ago the FDA decided to make some major changes regarding nutritional facts. Specifically, the ingredients displayed on an individual product’s label. Based on the individual company’s net income, changes to labeling were on two separate time limits. When a company's yearly net income met, or exceeded ten million U.S. the grace period for adjustments landed on January 1st, 2020.

Any company not accumulating ten million dollars annually was permitted another year to meet the newly implemented guidelines. Separated by only one year, January 1st, 2021 became the cut-off. Companies, manufacturers, and many large businesses have been operating, and evolving for decades. Although, even the most minute changes, can result in a massive difference in the way consumers view products. Especially, when it comes to what we human beings put into our bodies. Starting at home plate, serving sizes located on product labels were the first update to be implemented. Prior to this change, not only was a general serving text semi super-sized, additionally, the serving size description became larger and bolder. Obviously, this change made it much easier for consumers to fully grasp labeling details with regard to packaged goods such as candy boxes.

As we travel on our way from first base to second, personally in my opinion the most important adjustment the FDA mandated, the caloric intake count. Calories literally dictate the way human beings live their lives. Therefore, this trickles down into manufacturing product quality, innovative options are offered that did not previously exist, and the literal United States economy is affected as well. Bigger, better, bolder, the new text requirements meant specific product calorie count must be overly visible. Seems this was an attempt by the FDA to improve overall health, and awareness. Rounding off to second base, we come to one of the most overlooked, and previously understudied elements in the human diet; sugar. Now, there is a massive difference in natural sugars that make up, say an apple or an orange, and the “processed sugars” added to increase taste and the subconscious increase in consumption.

For the first time in United States history, an area on product labeling was cleared out for “added sugars”, scaled in grams. It’s almost like the FDA left no room for excuses or complaints when someone was trying to lose/gain weight. Coming in hot to third base, a typically overlooked portion of product labeling known as “Daily Values” received the next alteration.

Yet again, the FDA left no margin for error, as the “Daily Value” text met slight adjustments, either increasing or decreasing in size. Now we are off to the races! Closing in on home base, last but certainly not least, we come to the label portion known as “ added nutrients”. In contrast to the previous labeling description, newly improved labeling finally offered accurately, and precise amounts of nutrients such as vitamin D, A, even potassium elements in each product were now spot on.

Now, we've covered our home run evaluation of the FDA’s mandated changes. I feel as though new requirements produced a positive result. Overall, the FDA’s efforts aided in U.S. citizen's ability to gauge exactly what goes in, and out of their bodies. It's crystal clear through my lens that no matter how minor, or major these changes may be, ethically and morally the mandates were necessary for decades. I have a strong feeling many more changes are on their way. Especially as science, studies, and overall technology evolve so will our understanding of every element in our essential source for life, food!