February 18, 2010

The FDA may revise standard serving sizes to better match what Americans actually eat as part of an overall push to post key nutritional information, including calorie counts, on the front of food packages.

The standard serving size shown on a package determines all the other nutritional values on the label, including calorie counts.  If the serving size is smaller than what consumers really eat, they may think they are getting fewer calories or other nutrients than they are.  On the other hand, if the standard serving size is increased, consumers might misinterpret this to mean that eating larger portions of food is acceptable. The FDA hopes that more prominent labeling, in combination with more meaningful portion sizes, would help consumers make healthier choices, make improvements in their diet, and ultimately combat obesity.

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