WASHINGTON, D.C., May 3, 2018— American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments today on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule that extends the compliance date for the revised Nutrition Facts label by 18 months:
“The delay sanctioned by this new FDA rule is a disappointment. But we are encouraged that several major food manufacturers have publicly committed to meeting the original deadlines of July 2018 and 2019, and we want to thank them for their leadership. As a result, more than 29,000 products on the market already have revised Nutrition Facts labels.
The up-to-date information these new labels provide to consumers is critical. When it comes to diet, it’s important to choose carefully, because eating nutritious foods goes hand-in-hand with maintaining good cardiovascular health. Having key food facts easily accessible, enables consumers to make informed decisions.
We urge food manufacturers who are still in the process of putting these labels on their products to do so as soon as possible and follow the commendable example of the companies who are already compliant. When it’s time to dine, Americans should not only enjoy the food they are eating, they deserve to know what’s in it.”
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association's science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
For Media Inquiries:
Retha Sherrod: retha.sherrod@heart.org, 202-785-7929
For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
