Lawmakers want prescribed nutrition labeling for food products Legislators are pushing for the mandatory nutrition labeling of food products as they expressed concern over the absence of a law requiring manufacturers, packagers, or distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels. Reps. Dio sda do Arr oyo (2nd Dis tri ct, Camari nes Sur ) and Glo ria Mac apa gal - Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) have filed House Bill 2806 or the “Nu tri tio n Lab eli ng for Food Prod uct s Act of 2013 ,” whi ch see ks to promot e heal th consci ousness among the publi c throug h proper label ing of nutrit ional contents in food products. Under the bill, the commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the commodity and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. The measure also provides that a separate label statement of nutritional content shall appear conspicuously and in easily legible type in distinct contrast by typography, layout, color, embossing, or molding with the other matter on the p ackage. The label shall contain the number of servings or other units of measure per container, total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the total fat and any vitamin, mineral or other nutrient to be placed on the label or labeling of food if it will assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary pr actices. Arroyo said due to the absence of a law and the deluge of various food products in the market, there is an urgent need for consumers to be wary of such detail/s to be able to make well-informed choices especially if it concerns health issues. “It is the declared policy of the State to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information as to the nutriti onal contents of food and food products to facil itate value comparison and promote a free market economy,” Arroyo stressed. The measure provides further that the amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of measurement of food should contain these: total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein. The bill likewise provides that if a food contains insignificant amounts of all the nutrients required to be listed in the label or labeling of food, as determined by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), the requirements of such shall not apply to such food if its label, labeling or advertising does not make any claim about the product’s nutritive value. NR # 3272B OCT . 30, 2013