The food industry wants to make it easier for consumers to see the calorie and fat content of the foods they buy.
New food labels that will be easier for consumers to spot were announced today by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute.
The labels, called Nutrition Keys, will be placed on the front of food packages. The information will be simple and easy-to-read and tell consumers how key nutrients fit into a healthy diet. Some labels will also include information on "nutrients to encourage," or those that are underconsumed by the public. They include: potassium, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, iron, protein.
The labels will be phased in by the end of the year. Food products will continue to have the nutritional labels currently on food products as well.
The new labels were created in response to a request by First Lady Michelle Obama last year. Obama has made child nutrition a key part of her platform.