Proposed bill aims to eliminate misleading labeling

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)—chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security—and U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) have introduced the Accurate Labels Act. This proposed legislation would aim to provide American consumers with clear, accurate, meaningful nutrition information and prevent the issuance of inaccurate labels that mislead consumers and drive up prices. The Accurate Labels Act would amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act to ensure consumers continue to benefit from the nutritional and allergy information on packaging.

“Congress has an important role to play in making certain Americans have the best possible information when making purchasing decisions,” said Moran. “Our labeling requirements on the federal, state, and local levels must be based on credible science so we can provide consumers with accurate, relevant, and critical information pertaining to nutritional facts. Not only do inaccurate labels confuse consumers, they increase prices at the point of sale and create unnecessary new regulatory burdens placed on farmers and small businesses.”

The Accurate Labels Act ensures that consumers have access to accurate and easy-to-understand product information by:

• Establishing science-based criteria for all additional state and local labeling requirements.
• Allowing state-mandated product information to be provided through smartphone-enabled “smart labels” and on websites, where consumers can find up-to-date, relevant ingredients and warnings.
• Ensuring that covered product information is risk-based.

This legislation is supported by the American Chemistry Council, the Coalition for Accurate Product Labels, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Sen. Moran’s press release

Accurate Labeling Act (pdf)