SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took a major step in making sure consumers have updated nutritional information for most packaged foods sold in the United States, that will help people make informed decisions about the foods they eat and feed their families.

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“I am thrilled that the FDA has finalized a new and improved Nutrition Facts label that will be on food products nationwide,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This is going to make a real difference in providing families across the country the information they need to make healthy choices.”

“For more than 20 years, Americans have relied on the Nutrition Facts Label as a leading source of information regarding calories, fat and other nutrients to help them understand more about the foods they eat in a day,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. “The updated label makes improvements to this valuable resource so consumers can make more informed food choices – one of the most important steps a person can take to reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity.” 

Key Updates
The new Nutrition Facts label will include the following.

• An updated design to highlight “calories” and “servings,” two important elements in making informed food choices.
• Requirements for serving sizes that more closely reflect the amounts of food that people currently eat. What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the last serving size requirements were published in 1993. By law, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requires that serving sizes be based on what people actually eat.
• Declaration of grams and a percent daily value (%DV) for “added sugars” to help consumers know how much sugar has been added to the product. It is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugars, and this is consistent with the scientific evidence supporting the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• “Dual column” labels to indicate both “per serving” and “per package” calorie and nutrition information for certain multi-serving food products that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings. Examples include a pint of ice cream and a 3-ounce bag of chips. With dual-column labels available, people will be able to easily understand how many calories and nutrients they are getting if they eat or drink the entire package/unit at one time.
• For packages that are between one and two servings, such as a 20 ounce soda, the calories and other nutrients will be required to be labeled as one serving because people typically consume it in one sitting.
• Updated daily values for nutrients like sodium, dietary fiber and vitamin D, consistent with Institute of Medicine recommendations and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Daily values are reference amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed and are used to calculate the %DV that manufacturers include on the label.
• Declaration of Vitamin D and potassium that will include the actual gram amount, in addition to the %DV. These are nutrients that some people are not getting enough of, which puts them at higher risk for chronic disease. The %DV for calcium and iron will continue to be required, along with the actual gram amount. Vitamins A and C will no longer be required because deficiencies of these vitamins are rare, but these nutrients can be included on a voluntary basis.
• “Calories from Fat” will be removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount. “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” will continue to be required.
• An abbreviated footnote to better explain the %DV.

The FDA is also making minor changes to the Supplement Facts label found on dietary supplements to make it consistent with the Nutrition Facts label.

Most food manufacturers will be required to use the new label by July 26, 2018. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales will have an additional year to comply with the new rules. The FDA plans to conduct outreach and education efforts on the new requirements.

The iconic Nutrition Facts label was introduced more than 20 years ago to help consumers make informed food choices and maintain healthy dietary practices. In March 2014, the FDA proposed two rules to update the label, and in July 2015, issued a supplemental proposed rule. The Nutrition Facts label regulations apply to packaged foods except certain meat, poultry and processed egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

For more information:

• Final Rule Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplemental Facts Labels
• Final Rule Food Labeling: Serving Sizes of Foods that Can Reasonably Be Consumed at One Eating Occasion; Dual-Column Labeling; Updating, Modifying, and Establishing Certain Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed; Serving Size for Breath Mints; and Technical Amendments
• Final Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label
• Nutrition Facts Label graphics: New Label / What’s Different
• FDA Voice Blog: Unveiling the New Nutrition Facts Label

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency is also responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Media Inquiries: Lauren Kotwicki, 240-402- 9549, [email protected]; Lyndsay Meyer, 240-402-5345, [email protected] 
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

RIDGEFIELD, Connecticut, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BIPI) announced today that it is launching the “Conoce a Don Francisco” sweepstakes, offering a chance to meet iconic entertainer Mario Kreutzberger (better known as Don Francisco), who for the past two years has been the face of the company’s “Cuida Tu Don” initiative. Aimed at engaging and educating Hispanics with type 2 diabetes, which Don Francisco is affected by, Cuida Tu Don provides resources for treatment options and tips for long-term healthy lifestyle choices.

The Conoce a Don Francisco sweepstakes prize includes round-trip airfare for two to Miami, hotel accommodations, and transportation to-and-from a private dinner with Don Francisco. Entries can be submitted by visiting www.ConoceADonFrancisco.com.

“We are proud of our partnership with Don Francisco to engage and educate the millions of Hispanics in the U.S. living with type 2 diabetes Cuida Tu Don has focused on,” said Thomas Seck, M.D., vice president, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs – Metabolism at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Our new sweepstakes offers fans the chance to meet Don Francisco in person, providing another way for him to inspire others to face the challenges that come with living with type 2 diabetes.”

“Type 2 diabetes is part of my life, and I’ve experienced first-hand that by staying informed I can still do everything I love and live life to the fullest,” said Mario Kreutzberger. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to meet the winner face to face.”

In order to join the conversation about the sweepstakes, friends and family can share their stories on social media using #ConoceADonFrancisco. The winner will be chosen by June 16, 2016, and the trip will take place between June 27 and July 1, 2016. 

For official sweepstakes rules, terms and conditions and to enter the Conoce a Don Francisco sweepstakes, please visit www.ConoceADonFrancisco.com. For helpful tips and resources in Spanish about type 2 diabetes, please visit www.CuidaTuDon.com, and always remember to speak to your healthcare provider about any questions or concerns you may have.  

About Diabetes
Approximately 29 million Americans and an estimated 415 million people worldwide have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and nearly 28 percent of Americans with diabetes—totaling 8 million people—are undiagnosed. In the U.S., approximately 12 percent of those aged 20 and older have diabetes. T2D is the most common type, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed adult diabetes cases in the U.S. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either does not properly produce, or use, the hormone insulin.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 47,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel treatments for human and veterinary medicine.

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and providing valuable services and support to patients and their families.  Our employees create and engage in programs that strengthen our communities. To learn more about how we make more health for more people, visit our Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $15.8 billion (14.8 billion euros). R&D expenditure corresponds to 20.3 percent of its net sales.

For more information please visit www.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.  

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