Group Backs Ratings System for Food

Food products in U.S. stores should have ratings similar to the Energy Star tag for appliances, an expert panel says. The rating symbol would be on the front of the package, along with the calories and serving size. That’s the new proposal from the Institutes of Medicine. This independent group provides advice to the government. The report, released October 20, urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require the new food labels. They would not replace current labels with nutrition facts. Rather, they would put the most important facts in a more prominent spot. Products would receive zero to three stars or other symbols based on a point system. The most points would be given to products that were low in saturated and trans fats, sodium and added sugars. The FDA already is working on changes to the food labeling system.