July 29, 2026
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to strengthen requirements related to nutrient information on food labels, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title; table of contents
(a) Short title
This Act may be cited as the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2026
.
(b) Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 2. Additional requirements for front-of-package labeling for foods
(a) Front-of-Package labeling requirements
Section 403(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(q)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (3), by striking and (2)
and inserting (2), and (6)
;
(2)
in subparagraph (4)(A), by striking and (2)
and inserting (2), and (6)
;
(3)
in subparagraph (5)(A), in the matter preceding subclause (i), by striking and (4)
and inserting (4), and (5)
; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(6)
(A)
Except as provided in subparagraphs (3), (4), and (5), if it is a food intended for human consumption and is offered for sale, unless it bears front-of-package labeling that includes the following:
(i)
An icon on the top half of the principal display panel that details and identifies high amounts of added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat, as applicable. Such principal display panel shall include a separate label for each such nutrient, as applicable. Such labels shall designate high amounts of added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat based on Daily Reference Values for adults, children ages 1 to 3, and infants through age 12 months, as applicable. Such labels shall include the words
High inand a conspicuous exclamation point icon.(ii)
If a food contains non-nutritive sweeteners, the following statement on the principal display panel:
Contains non-nutritive sweeteners. Not recommended for children.. Such statement shall appear adjacent to the one or moreHigh inlabels described in clause (i), if applicable.(B)
The labeling requirements described in subclauses (i) and (ii) of clause (A) shall apply to foods, other than infant formula, that are represented or purported to be specifically for infants through 12 months of age and children 1 through 3 years of age, in addition to applying to foods represented or purported to be for adults.
(C)
In carrying out clauses (A) and (B), the Secretary shall establish Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat for infants through 12 months of age and update the Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat for children 1 through 3 years of age in alignment with the recommendations in the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Percentage of wheat and grains in grain-Based products, and amount of real fruit, vegetable, and yogurt in products bearing fruit, vegetable, and yogurt claims
Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(z)
If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, the principal display panel bears—
(1)
the term whole wheat, whole grain, made with whole grain, or multigrain;
(2)
a declaration of the whole grain content by weight;
(3)
the term wheat on a wheat bread, pasta, or similar product that is typically made from wheat; or
(4)
any similar descriptive phrases, terms, or representations suggesting the product contains whole grains,
unless the amounts of whole grains and refined grains, expressed as a percentage of total grains, are conspicuously disclosed in immediate proximity to the most prominent descriptive phrase, term, or representation using a font color and formatting of equivalent prominence to the descriptive phrase, term, or representation with respect to whole grain content, or unless 100 percent of the grains in the food are whole grains.
(aa)
(1)
If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, the principal display panel bears—
(A)
the term fruit, fruity, froot, frooty, or fruit-flavored;
(B)
representations, depictions, or images of fruit ingredients; or
(C)
any similar descriptive phrases, terms, or representations suggesting the product contains fruit or any specific type of fruit, unless the quantity per serving and form of fruit, including only the nutrient-dense forms, is declared on the principal display panel in a common household measure that is appropriate to the food, conspicuously, and in immediate proximity to the most prominent term, representation, depiction, or image of fruit.
(2)
The Secretary shall by regulation establish quantities below which such declaration shall state that a serving of the food does not contain a full serving of fruit.
(3)
In this paragraph, the term nutrient-dense, with respect to the form of an ingredient derived from a fruit, means the whole, cut, dried, pulp, puree, 100-percent juice, or fully reconstituted concentrate form, and not concentrates, powders, and other ingredients that are not whole, cut, dried, pulp, puree, 100-percent juice, or fully reconstituted concentrates.
(bb)
(1)
If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, the principal display panel bears—
(A)
the term vegetable or veggie;
(B)
representations, depictions, or images of vegetable ingredients; or
(C)
any similar descriptive phrases, terms, or representations suggesting the product contains vegetables or any specific type of vegetable,
unless the quantity per serving and form of vegetable, including only the nutrient-dense form, is declared on the principal display panel in a common household measure that is appropriate to the food, conspicuously, and in immediate proximity to the most prominent term, representation, depiction, or image of vegetable.
(2)
The Secretary shall by regulation establish quantities below which such declaration shall state that a serving of the food does not contain a full serving of vegetable.
(3)
In this paragraph, the term nutrient-dense, with respect to the form of an ingredient derived from a vegetable, means the whole, cut, dried, pulp, puree, 100-percent juice, or fully reconstituted concentrate form, and not concentrates, powders, and other ingredients that are not whole, cut, dried, pulp, puree, 100-percent juice, or fully reconstituted concentrates.
(cc)
(1)
If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, the principal display panel bears the term yogurt, unless—
(A)
the quantity per serving of yogurt is declared on the principal display panel in a common household measure that is appropriate to the food, conspicuously, in immediate proximity to the term; or
(B)
the first ingredient is cultured milk, cultured cream, cultured partially skimmed milk, or cultured skim milk.
(2)
The Secretary shall by regulation establish quantities below which such declaration shall state that a serving of the food does not contain a full serving of yogurt.
(c) Coloring and flavoring
Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(dd)
If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, it bears or contains any artificial dye, or any added artificial or natural flavoring, unless such fact is prominently stated on the principal display panel of the packaging of the food. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term artificial dye refers to a batch-certified dye certified under part 74 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).
(d) Report on sweeteners
(1) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that—
(A)
evaluates whether—
(i)
manufacturers have increased the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners; and
(ii)
the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners has risen to a level that could result in negative health consequences; and
(B)
describes actions that will be taken by the Secretary to address any increased use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners.
(2) Monitoring
On completion of the report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A)
periodically monitor for increased use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners; and
(B)
take action to address the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners if the use has risen to a level that could result in negative health consequences.
(e) Construction
Nothing in this section, including any amendment made by this section, shall be construed as—
(1)
affecting any requirement in regulation in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to matters that are required to be stated on the principal display panel of a package or container of food that is not required by an amendment made by this section; or
(2)
restricting the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require additional information be disclosed on such a principal display panel.
Sec. 3. Claims for conventional foods
(a) Health-Related claims
(1) In general
Section 403(r)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting after health-related condition
the following: , describes the effect that a nutrient may have on the structure or function of the human body, characterizes the documented mechanism by which that nutrient acts to maintain such structure or function, or describes general well-being from consumption of that nutrient,
.
(2) Substantiation of claim
Section 403(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraph (7) as subparagraph (8); and
(B)
by inserting after subparagraph (6) the following:
(7)
If the Secretary requests that a claim under subparagraph (1)(B) for food (other than a dietary supplement) be substantiated, then not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary makes such request, the manufacturer shall provide to the Secretary all documentation in the manufacturer's possession relating to the claim.
(3) Incompatible with maintaining healthy dietary practices
Section 403(r)(3)(A)(ii) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(2)(B)) is amended by striking increases to persons in the general population the risk of a disease or health-related condition which is diet related
and inserting may not be compatible with maintaining healthy dietary practices
.
(b) Nutrient content claims
(1) In general
Section 403(r)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(2)) is amended by striking clause (B) and inserting the following:
(B)
If a claim described in subparagraph (1)(A) is made with respect to a nutrient in a food and the Secretary makes a determination that the food contains a nutrient at a level that may not be compatible with maintaining healthy dietary practices, the label or labeling of such food shall contain, prominently and in immediate proximity to such claim, a statement which indicates the food is high in such nutrient.
(2) Revisions to regulations
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise section 101.13(h) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, by—
(A)
updating the level of sodium requiring disclosure to align with the Daily Reference Value for sodium established in the final rule entitled Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
published by the Food and Drug Administration on May 27, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 33741);
(B)
including a level of added sugars requiring disclosure based on the Daily Reference Value for added sugars established in the final rule described in subparagraph (A);
(C)
eliminating the requirement that meal products containing more than 26 grams of fat and main dish products containing 19.5 grams of fat per labeled serving must disclose that fat is present in the food; and
(D)
authorizing the use of express and implied low added sugar
claims on products containing 3 grams of added sugars or less per reference amount customarily consumed (or per 50 grams if the reference amount customarily consumed is 30 grams or less or 2 tablespoons or less).
(c) Trans fats
Section 403(r)(2)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(2)(A)) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subclauses (v) and (vi) as subclauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and
(2)
by inserting after subclause (iv) the following new subclause:
(v)
may not be made with respect to the level of trans fats in the food, except on the Nutrition Facts Panel, unless the food contains less than one gram of saturated fat per serving or, if the food contains more than one gram of saturated fat per serving, unless the label or labeling of the food discloses the level of saturated fat in the food in immediate proximity to such claim and with appropriate prominence which shall be no less than one-half the size of the claim with respect to the level of trans fats,
(d) Added sugars
Not more than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate a final rule revising section 101.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to include a disqualifying nutrient level for added sugars.
Sec. 4. Use of specific terms
(a) Use of the terms non-UPF, non-ultraprocessed, Not UPF, and not ultraprocessed
(1) In general
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include regulations—
(A)
relating to use of the terms non-UPF, non-ultraprocessed, not UPF, and not ultraprocessed on the label of food, including addressing what each such term does and does not mean in terms of ingredients and manufacturing processes; and
(B)
specifically addressing the use of such term on the principal display panel and the information panel.
(2) Definitions
The regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall define the terms non-UPF, non-ultraprocessed, not UPF, and not-ultraprocessed to exclude, at a minimum—
(A)
foods that do not meet the definition of healthy at section 101.65 (d)(3) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations); and
(B)
dietary supplements.
(b) Use of the term natural
(1) In general
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include regulations—
(A)
relating to use of the term natural on the labeling of food (other than a dietary supplement);
(B)
specifically addressing the use of such term on the principal display panel and the information panel; and
(C)
requiring that any such use includes a prominent disclosure explaining what the term natural
does and does not mean in terms of ingredients and manufacturing processes.
(2) Definition
The regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall define the term natural—
(A)
to exclude, at a minimum, the use of any artificial food or ingredient (including any artificial flavor or added color); and
(B)
based on data, including data on consumers’ understanding of the term as used in connection with food.
(3) Process
In promulgating the regulations required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(A)
conduct consumer surveys and studies and issue a timely call for relevant public submissions regarding relevant consumer research, including with respect to consumer understanding of the term natural in relation to the term organic; and
(B)
fully consider the results of such surveys and studies, as well as such public submissions.
Sec. 5. Format of ingredient list
(a) In general
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include requirements for the format of the information required under section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i))—
(1)
for the purpose of improving the readability of such information on the label of the food (other than a dietary supplement); and
(2)
that are, as determined by the Secretary, necessary to assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices.
(b) Format requirements
The format requirements described in subsection (a) shall include requirements for font size, uppercase and lowercase characters, serif and noncondensed font types, high-contrast between text and background, and bullet points between adjacent ingredients with appropriate exemptions for small packages or other considerations.
(c) Enforcement of ingredient list
Not later than 2 years after the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress on the Secretary’s enforcement of—
(1)
section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i)), including with respect to the regulations described in subsection (a); and
(2)
regulations of the Food and Drug Administration on labeling of ingredients in section 101.4 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations.
Sec. 6. Modernization of ingredient list
(a) Phosphorus
Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343), as amended by section 2(c), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(ee)
If it is a food intended for human consumption that is offered for sale and contains phosphorus, unless—
(1)
the phrase
contains phosphorus, along with the quantity of phosphorus in the product, reported in milligrams per serving, is printed immediately after or is adjacent to the list of ingredients required under paragraphs (g) and (i), in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients; or(2)
the quantity of phosphorus contained in the product, in milligrams, is reported in the Nutrition Facts Panel.
(b) Full ingredient disclosure
Section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i)) is amended—
(1)
by striking , and (2) in case
and inserting ; (2) in the case that
;
(2)
by striking and if the food purports
and inserting ; (3) if the food purports;
; and
(3)
by striking except that spices, flavorings, and colors not required to be certified under section 721(c) unless sold as spices, flavorings, or such colors, may be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each
and inserting (4) in the case that the label uses the terms
.natural flavor
, natural flavoring
, artificial flavor
, artificial flavoring
, spice
, or spices
in its ingredient list, a parenthetical listing each specific substance included with respect to that term, except that, if such parenthetical lists more than 10 substances, or if the food is sold in a package with 40 square inches or less of total surface area available for labeling, the food may bear a scannable QR code linking to a website or other remote electronic written medium with a full ingredient list, accompanied by text stating: Scan for details on
, followed by the term or terms necessitating such QR code; and
Sec. 7. Caffeine content on information panel
Section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i)), as amended by section 6, is further amended by inserting before the period at the end of the first sentence the following: ; and (5) if the food is food other than a dietary supplement and contains at least 10 milligrams of caffeine from all sources per serving, a statement (with appropriate prominence near the statement of ingredients required by this paragraph) of the number of milligrams of caffeine contained in one serving of the food and the size of such serving
after vegetable juice contained in the food
.
Sec. 8. Food allergen labeling
(a) In general
Section 201(qq) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(qq)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Any other food or food ingredient that the Secretary determines by regulation to be a major food allergen, based on the prevalence and severity of allergic reactions to the food ingredient.
(b) Update to Compliance Policy Guide
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall update the Food and Drug Administration's Compliance Policy Guide, section 555.250, to conform with applicable laws related to major food allergens and gluten-containing grains, including requirements under sections 9 and 10 of this Act.
Sec. 9. Information about major food allergens and gluten-containing grains
(a) In general
Section 403(w) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(w)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (1)—
(A)
in the matter preceding clause (A), by inserting or gluten-containing grain
after major food allergen
;
(B)
in clause (A)—
(i)
by inserting or gluten-containing grain
after major food allergen
; and
(ii)
by striking is printed immediately after or is adjacent to the list of ingredients (in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients) required under subsections (g) and (i)
and inserting is printed as specified in subparagraph (8)
; and
(C)
in clause (B)—
(i)
in the matter preceding subclause (i)—
(I)
by inserting or gluten-containing grain
after of the major food allergen
;
(II)
by striking in the list of ingredients required under subsections (g) and (i)
and inserting as so printed
; and
(III)
by inserting or gluten-containing grain
before is derived,
;
(ii)
in subclause (i), by inserting or gluten-containing grain
before is derived
; and
(iii)
in subclause (ii)—
(I)
by inserting or gluten-containing grain
before is derived
; and
(II)
by striking not a major food allergen under section 201(qq)(2)(A) or (B).
and inserting the following: ‘‘not—
(I)
a major food allergen under clause (A) or (B) of section 201(qq)(2); or
(II)
a gluten-containing grain.;
(2)
in subparagraph (3), by striking The information
and inserting Subject to subparagraph (8)(B), the information
;
(3)
in subparagraph (4), by inserting or gluten-containing grain
after major food allergen
;
(4)
in subparagraph (7)(A), in the matter preceding subclause (i), by striking paragraph (6)
and inserting subparagraph (6)
; and
(5)
by adding at the end of the following:
(8)
The information required by subparagraph (1) to be conveyed to the consumer shall be—
(A)
printed immediately after or adjacent to the list of ingredients (in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients) required under paragraphs (g) and (i); or
(B)
in the case of nonpackaged food being offered for sale at retail, and not subject to the requirements under paragraph (g) and (i), place on a sign adjacent to the food (in a type size no smaller than the name of the food item).
(b) Hazard analysis and preventive controls
Section 418 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 350g) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting gluten-containing grains,
after allergens,
; and
(2)
in subsection (o)(3)(D), by inserting and gluten-containing grain
after allergen,
.
(c) Inspections relating to food allergens
Section 205 of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (21 U.S.C. 374a) is amended by inserting and gluten-containing grains,
after allergens
each place it appears.
Sec. 10. Submission and availability of food label information
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is amended by inserting after section 403C of such Act (21 U.S.C. 343—3) the following:
403D. Submission and availability of food label information
(a) Submissions
(1) Requirement
The Secretary shall require the manufacturer or importer of any food that is introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce in package form to submit to the Secretary all information to be included in the label of the food, including—
(A)
the nutrition facts panel;
(B)
the ingredients list;
(C)
an image of the principal display panel;
(D)
major allergens and gluten-containing grains;
(E)
claims under section 403(r)(1)(A) (commonly known as
nutrient-content claims);(F)
claims under section 403(r)(1)(B) (commonly known as
health-related claims); and(G)
other relevant information required by law to be published in the labeling of the food.
(2) Updates
The Secretary shall require the manufacturer or importer of food to update or supplement the information submitted under paragraph (1) with respect to the food in order to keep the information up-to-date and complete.
(3) Civil penalty
Whoever knowingly violates paragraph (1) with respect to any food shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each day on which such violation continues with respect to such food.
(b) Public database
The Secretary shall establish and maintain a public database containing the information submitted under this section that—
(1)
is available to the public through the website of the Food and Drug Administration; and
(2)
allows members of the public to easily search and sort information.
Sec. 11. Standards of identity
(a) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(1)
review standards of identity prescribed by regulation which require foods to contain—
(A)
minimum levels of nutrients that the Secretary determines are strongly associated with public health concerns; or
(B)
minimum levels of ingredients containing high levels of such nutrients; and
(2)
report to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the findings of such review.
(b) Amendments
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall amend standards of identity regulations to—
(1)
provide for the use of salt substitutes where appropriate; and
(2)
require that yogurt, lowfat yogurt, and nonfat yogurt contain a minimum level of live and active cultures per gram.
Sec. 12. Study on fortification of corn masa flour
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress on the effect of the final rule titled Food Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Food for Human Consumption; Folic Acid
published by the Food and Drug Administration on April 15, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 22176) on folic acid intake in the United States population by race and ethnicity, comparing actual exposure with modeled exposure estimates from the final rule.
Sec. 13. Sugar alcohols and isolated fibers
Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343), as amended by section 6, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(ff)
If it is a food intended for human consumption that is offered for sale and contains allulose, polydextrose, sugar alcohols, or isolated fibers, unless such fact is prominently stated on the principal display panel of the packaging of the food. The Secretary shall by regulation establish quantities above which such labeling shall include a warning that the food contains a level of allulose, polydextrose, sugar alcohols, or isolated fibers per serving determined by the Secretary to cause deleterious health effects.
Sec. 14. Infant and toddler beverages
In promulgating the regulations required by section 18, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise—
(1)
section 101.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to prohibit any beverage in powder or liquid form, other than infant formula, represented or purported to be for use by children more than 12 months old, from being identified as infant formula
or use the term formula
in combination with any other term; and
(2)
part 102 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, so that—
(A)
in the case of any powdered or liquid milk-based beverage that claims to be for consumption by children 12 to 36 months of age, such beverage shall—
(i)
use as its common or usual name a descriptive term such as milk-based drink
; and
(ii)
if the beverage contains added sugars, nonnutritive sweeteners, or flavorings, include in such common or usual name a qualifying term such as sweetened
or flavored
;
(B)
in the case of any powdered or liquid nondairy-milk-based beverage that claims to be for consumption by children 12 to 36 months of age, such beverage shall—
(i)
use as its common or usual name an appropriately descriptive term identifying the source of protein, such as soy-based drink powder for 12–36 month olds
; and
(ii)
if the beverage contains added sugars, nonnutritive sweeteners, or flavorings, include in such common or usual name qualifying terms such as sweetened
and flavored
when applicable; and
(C)
the labeling of a beverage described in subparagraph (A) or (B) shall—
(i)
contain a disclaimer that—
(I)
cautions against consumption of the beverage by infants, such as Do not serve to infants under 12 months old
; and
(II)
such beverages are not recommended for children 12 to 24 months of age and such consumption of such beverages is not required for a healthy diet, such as This product contains added sugars. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend to avoid food and beverages with added sugars for children younger than 24 months of age.
; and
(ii)
not contain any statement suggesting a recommended intake of such beverages, such as one cup a day
.
Sec. 15. Formatting of information on principal display panels
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—
(1)
not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, conduct a study on the legibility of food labeling to determine updated recommendations for text size and color contrast that make food labeling information visually accessible to the majority of consumers;
(2)
not later than 1 year after the completion of the study under paragraph (1), issue proposed regulations revising section 101.2(c) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to—
(A)
set the scale of text size, taking into consideration the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and
(B)
establish new requirements for text and background color contrast, taking into consideration the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and
(3)
not later than 2 years after the completion of the study under paragraph (1), finalize such proposed regulations.
Sec. 16. Sale of food online
(a) In general
Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343), as amended by section 13, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(gg)
(1)
If it is a food intended for human consumption and is offered for sale online or by other remote written electronic means, unless the following requirements are met:
(A)
The following information is available to consumers at the point of selection prior to purchasing the food, through a publicly available website or other remote electronic written means:
(i)
The information required to be included in a food label pursuant to paragraph (e)(2).
(ii)
The nutrition information required in a food label under paragraph (q), in the same format as required under paragraph (q) and subject to clause (C).
(iii)
The ingredient information required under paragraphs (g), (i), (k), and (s), provided that if formulations of the food containing different ingredients or nutrition information required under paragraph (q)(1) may be substituted under the same offer for sale—
(I)
in immediate proximity to the text or image disclosing the ingredient list or nutrition information required under such paragraph(q)(1), the following statement shall appear:
There are multiple versions of this product. Please review ingredients and nutrition facts for each version prior to purchase.; and(II)
all versions of the ingredients or nutrition information required to be included on a label or labeling under paragraph (q)(1) presenting such different ingredients or nutrition information shall be available to consumers prior to purchasing the food.
(iv)
The information required under paragraphs (w) and (x).
(v)
The information required to appear on the principal display panel (as defined in section 101.1 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)).
(B)
(i)
The manufacturer, processor, or distributor of the food makes the information described in subclauses (i) through (v) of clause (A) available, through a publicly available website or other remote electronic written means.
(ii)
With respect to any updates to the information required to be made available by a manufacturer, processor, or distributor pursuant to subclause (i), such updates shall be made available prior to the food being introduced or delivered for introduction into commerce.
(C)
The information required under clauses (A) and (B) may be provided as text or by publishing images of the product label.
(D)
For purposes of clauses (A) and (B), the nutrition information required under paragraph (q), the ingredient information required under paragraphs (g), (i), (k), and (s), and the allergen information required under paragraphs (w) and (x) shall—
(i)
be easily accessible on the first screen containing information about the product appearing on a mobile device, internet website, or other landing page; and
(ii)
appear prominently and conspicuously (as compared with other words, statements, or designs on the mobile device, website, or other landing page) so as to render the information likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of online purchase.
(2)
(A)
A food shall be exempt from the requirements of this paragraph to the extent the food is otherwise exempt from a labeling requirement under paragraph (q)(5), section 405(2), or another provision of this chapter.
(B)
The requirements of this paragraph shall be subject to any exemptions and variations as are applicable under this section.
(b) Exemption for penalties
Section 303(d) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 333(d)) is amended—
(1)
by striking No person
and inserting the following: (d)(1) No person
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
No person offering a product for sale online or by other remote electronic written means shall be subject to the penalties of subsection (a)(1) of this section for a violation of section 301 involving misbranded food if the violation exists solely because the food is misbranded under section 403(gg) due to omission or inaccuracies in the information required under section 403(gg)(1), if such omission or inaccuracies were replicated from the product label.
Sec. 17. Definitions
(a) Definitions applicable in this Act
In this Act, the terms food and dietary supplement have the meanings given to such terms in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(b) Definitions applicable in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(tt)
The term artificial, with respect to food or any ingredient of food, means—
(1)
food or an ingredient that is synthetically produced whether or not it has the same chemical structure as a naturally occurring food or ingredient;
(2)
food or an ingredient that has undergone chemical changes through the introduction of synthetic chemicals or processing aids (such as corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, high-maltose corn syrup, maltodextrin, chemically modified starch, and cocoa processed with alkali), excluding—
(A)
food or an ingredient that has undergone traditional processes used to make food edible, to preserve food, or to make food safe for human consumption (such as smoking, roasting, freezing, drying, and fermenting processes); or
(B)
food or an ingredient that has undergone traditional physical processes that do not fundamentally alter the raw product or which only separate a whole intact food into component parts (such as grinding grains, separating eggs into albumen and yolk, or pressing fruits to produce juice); or
(3)
any food or ingredient that the Secretary specifies by regulation to be artificial for purposes of this Act.
(uu)
The term synthetic, with respect to a substance in food or any ingredient of food, means a substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from a naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral source, except that such term does not apply to a substance created by naturally occurring biological processes.
(vv)
The term gluten-containing grains means any one of the following grains (or any crossbred hybrid thereof):
(1)
Wheat, including any species belonging to the genus Triticum.
(2)
Rye, including any species belonging to the genus Secale.
(3)
Barley, including any species belonging to the genus Hordeum.
(ww)
The term gluten means the proteins that—
(1)
naturally occur in a gluten-containing grain; and
(2)
may cause adverse health effects in persons with celiac disease.
(xx)
The term online means on or by any system of data communication and transmission, such as the internet.
(yy)
The term online point of selection means any space in which consumers are allowed to purchase food online, including websites, e-commerce platforms, web applications, and mobile applications.
Sec. 18. Regulations; delayed applicability
(a) Regulations
(1) Proposed regulations
(A) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall issue proposed regulations to carry out sections 3, 4, 5(a), 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17(b) and the amendments made by such sections.
(B) Front-of-package labeling for foods
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall issue proposed regulations to carry out section 2, including the amendments made by such section.
(2) Final regulations
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall finalize the regulations proposed pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Failure to issue final regulation
If the Secretary of Health and Human Services does not issue a final regulation as required by paragraph (2) by the deadline specified in such paragraph, the corresponding proposed regulation shall become final on such deadline.
(4) Special rule with respect to certain front-of-package labeling requirements
(A) In general
If the Secretary determines that establishing Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values as described in section 403(q)(6)(C) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by section 2(a), for inclusion in the final rule as required by paragraph (2) would prevent the issuance of such final rule by the deadline described in such subsection, the Secretary shall issue such final rule before establishing such Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values.
(B) Subsequent revision to rule
If the Secretary finalizes the rule as described in described in section 403(q)(6)(C) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by section 2(a) before establishing Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values, as described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary, as soon as practicable after establishing such Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values, shall revise such final rule to include such Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values.
(b) Delayed applicability
The amendments made by sections 2, 3, 4, 5(a), 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17(b) apply beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.