Because industry members need to have the latest information on labeling rules in the United States, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) released a revised “PMA Nutrition & Produce Labeling Guide” July 20, 2017. It is available free to PMA members at https://www.pma.com/Content/Articles/2016/05/US-Nutrition-Facts-label.
“Fresh produce has the most amazing nutrition story to tell, and it’s important that produce marketers use that story to their best advantage, including through nutrition labeling,” said Kathy Means, PMA vice president of industry relations. “Fresh fruits and vegetables offer great flavor, incredible variety, beautiful colors and, arguably, the best nutrition story in all food categories.”
To tell that nutrition story, and to comply with U.S. food labeling rules, PMA revised its long-standing labeling guide to include new rules from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about nutrition labeling. Those rules were published in 2016, with an original compliance date was July 26, 2018. In June 2017, FDA announced it would delay the original compliance; however, the agency has not yet issued a new date.
“FDA said the rules would remain the same; the only thing changing is the compliance date,” Means said.
Available to members, the guide offers nutrition labels for the top 20 fruits and top 20 vegetables sold in the United States as well as a variety of claims (e.g., health, structure-function) and definitions of various descriptors (e.g., fresh, organic). In addition, the guide details other labeling topics, such as wax labeling, ingredient lists, country-of-origin, menu labeling, and more.
“PMA members worldwide have told me they have our old guide, dog-eared, on their desks as a reference,” Means said. “This updated version should offer as much assistance as that old one did. As always, we encourage members to use labeling and other tools to educate consumers about their fruits and vegetables, including the great nutrition story each product has. Today, consumers expect transparency and information, and it’s up to us to be sure they get it.”
Contact:
Cassidy Taylor
PMA
Tel: +1(302) 738-7100 x5852