Understanding Meat Nutritional Labeling: A Guide for Label Customers

At Bollin Label, we understand the importance of providing our label customers with accurate and informative nutritional labeling for their products. One of the key areas where this is crucial is in the labeling of meat products. In this blog, we will delve into the various aspects of meat nutritional labeling, the significance of each component, and the upcoming compliance date set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nutritional panels. The Importance of Nutritional Labeling Nutritional labeling plays a vital role in helping consumers make informed decisions about the foods they consume. The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods was updated in 2016 by the FDA to provide consumers with more accurate and up-to-date information about the nutritional content of the products they buy. This update considered the latest scientific research, including the connection between diet and chronic diseases like obesity and heart disease. Components of a Meat Nutritional Panel Serving Size: Serving size is the first item you’ll find on a nutritional label. It indicates the recommended portion size for the product. Note that serving sizes can vary significantly between different meat products. Calories: The calorie count tells consumers how many calories are in one serving of the meat product. This information is crucial for individuals who are monitoring their daily calorie intake. Nutrients: Meat labels provide information on various nutrients, including: Total Fat Saturated Fat Trans Fat Cholesterol Sodium Total Carbohydrates Dietary Fiber Sugars Protein These values are in grams or milligrams per serving. Vitamins and Minerals: Meat labels may also include information on vitamins and minerals present in the product, such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium. % Daily Value (%DV): %DV indicates how much nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. This number is based on a daily intake of 2,000 calories, which is the general daily caloric intake used for nutrition reference.   January 1, 2024, Compliance Date The FDA has set a compliance date of January 1, 2024, for nutritional panels on meat products. This means that all meat product manufacturers must update their labels to comply with the latest nutritional guidelines by this date. This update aligns with the FDA’s ongoing efforts to provide consumers with accurate and up-to-date information about the foods they consume. Manufacturers with: $10 million or more in annual sales were required to update their labels by January 1, 2020. Less than $10 million in annual food sales were required to update their labels by January 1, 2021. And, manufacturers of most single-ingredient sugars, such as honey and maple syrup, and certain cranberry products had until July 1, 2021, to make the changes. Bollin Label’s Commitment Commitment to supporting our label customers in meeting the FDA’s compliance requirements. And, we are pleased to announce that we have replaced our stocked label catalog meat nutritional grind labels with updated compliant versions. These updated labels will be available to our customers by January 1, 2024, ensuring that you have the necessary tools to meet the compliance deadline and provide accurate nutritional labeling for your meat products. For more detailed information and guidance on nutritional labeling, we recommend referring to the FDA Food Labeling Guide. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Bollin Label for assistance and support with your label compliance needs. We are here to help you navigate the evolving landscape of nutritional labeling for meat products and ensure that you can continue to provide your customers with high-quality, informative labels. DOWNLOAD A FACT SHEET FOR MORE INFORMATION. The post Understanding Meat Nutritional Labeling: A Guide for Label Customers appeared first on .