The FDA’s plan to delay the new food label is a bad move for public health

I’m confused — and mad — about the Food and Drug Administration’s plan to delay the implementation of the much-needed new food label, the iconic rectangle of nutrition information that adorns food packages.

Eighteen months ago, then-first lady Michelle Obama announced that she was “thrilled” that the FDA had finalized a new and improved label. It was going to be required on all packaged foods by July 2018. But now the FDA has proposed pushing back the required date to January 2020.

I am scratching my head on this one. Truthfully, in this era of transparency, I need to disclose that I am actually knocking my head against the wall because this delay will keep consumers from getting information they need about the foods they eat.

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