Bill > HR8385

This bill, the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2026, aims to update and enhance the information provided on food labels to help consumers make healthier choices. Key provisions include requiring "interpretive nutrition information" on the front of food packaging, using a standardized symbol system to display calorie counts and highlight added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat, and ensuring this information is easily understandable and visually prominent. The bill also mandates clearer labeling for products making claims about whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and yogurt, specifying the actual amounts and forms of these ingredients. It revises rules for health-related and nutrient content claims, requiring substantiation for health claims and setting clearer standards for what constitutes a "healthy" food, particularly concerning added sugars and whole grains. The term "natural" will be more strictly defined to exclude artificial ingredients and synthetic processes, with clear explanations on labels. The bill also mandates the declaration of caffeine content, requires phosphorus to be listed in the ingredient list or Nutrition Facts Panel, and expands food allergen labeling to include "gluten-containing grains." Furthermore, it establishes a system for manufacturers to submit all label information to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), creating a public database, and requires that all food labeling information be available to consumers at the point of selection when purchasing food online. Finally, the bill addresses the use of sugar alcohols and isolated fibers by requiring prominent labeling and potential warnings, and mandates studies and regulations concerning sweeteners and the fortification of corn masa flour.