The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended regulations on the labeling of sweetened carbonated beverages that is to include a ban on the use of promotional phrases related to nutrients, the agency said yesterday.
Under the new rules, beverage labels or packaging would not be allowed to say the drink is “high” or “rich” in nutrition, such as vitamin C, the FDA said.
Such changes to the “Regulations on Nutrition Labeling for Prepackaged Food Products” would give consumers a better idea of what the drinks contain and steer them away from consuming excessive amounts of sugar, FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Instead of promotional and more subjective labels, makers of sweetened carbonated beverages would need to have factual information on their labeling, Lin said.
Citing an example, he said many sweet drinks contain nutrients such as vitamin C, and in accordance with the new regulation, the actual amount of vitamin C or any other nutrient would need to be displayed on the packaging.
However, for carbonated beverages that are sugar-free, they would be permitted to maintain labels claiming the drink is “high” or “rich” in nutrients provided that the drink has at least 30 percent of the recommended daily intake of the nutrient mentioned, Lin said.
The new provisions are to take effect immediately, but a grace period is to be available for some of the amended clauses until Jan. 1, 2026, the FDA said.
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