Are 'Smart Food Labels' The Proper Tool to Achieve this Goal?
Roseann B. Termini
Widener University - School of Law
Nicole Stanzione
Widener University - School of Law
Food and Drug Law Institute Update, No. 4, p. 18, July/August 2010
Abstract:
Obesity in the United States continues as a growing epidemic and has the distinction as the second largest cause of premature death. Nearly 129 million adults and nine million children have been considered overweight and obese. Health costs associated with obesity range from “$69 billion dollars to $117 billion dollars on an annual basis.” Should the federal government step up and implement regulations that support the health and welfare of its citizens or should the consumer figure this out?
Apparently, the time is more than ripe for the federal government to establish specific rules that address how to accurately and clearly present label information concerning healthy food choices. The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) should develop these rules to assure that food manufacturers depict accurate non-misleading and informative labeling. The FDA was established to protect the public health “by assur[ing] the safety, effectiveness and security of… our nation’s food supply.” The continued role of this federal agency is to ensure that the public obtains “accurate, science-based information they need [in order] to use… foods to improve their health.”
DOWNLOAD: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1673528
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