Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling: How It’ll Change the Way Consumers Shop and What It Means for Brands

The Nutritional Info box would serve as a condensed version of the nutritional facts label.

As per FDA’s proposed FOPL rule, the box must list the nutrients — saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar content — on the front of food packages as Low, Med, or High, making it easier to interpret the numerical value associated with each one.

Food manufacturers can also declare calories on the front of the package (outside the nutrient box info), though it’s not a mandatory requirement.

The FDA’s proposed Front-of-Pack (FOP) label strips away the fine print (no more squinting at the back of the box), putting essential nutrition facts front and center.

Here’s what to expect:

• A standard black-and-white Nutrition Info box that’s clear, crisp, and easy to read across all food products.
• Serving size and % Daily Values displayed prominently at the top for quick reference.
• Key nutrients—added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium—are each classified as Low, Med, or High, helping shoppers make informed decisions instantly.

The FDA proposed the rule at the beginning of this year, but it will be a while before brands need to make immediate changes to their packaging design. The FDA has provided a window until May 16, 2025, for the public to share their concerns and feedback before the rule is issued.

If finalized, the proposed rule would introduce a Nutrition Info box on most packaged food products, with a phased rollout based on company size. Large manufacturers—those with $10 million or more in annual food sales—would need to comply within three years of the rule’s effective date, while smaller businesses with less than $10 million in annual sales would have an extra year, bringing their deadline to four years after the rule takes effect.

Governments worldwide are pushing for clearer, more transparent labeling. Over 40 countries have already jumped on board with FOP labeling, with 17 making them mandatory.

Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling (FOPNL) comes in different formats, each designed to help consumers make informed decisions at a glance. While some systems focus on warning labels to highlight unhealthy foods, others use color coding, scores, or endorsement symbols.

Let’s look at the different FOPNL designs used across the globe:

These are black labels that resemble a stop-sign. They come with prominent warnings such as “High in Sugar” or “Excess Sodium.” These labels have been effective in influencing consumer buying behavior in countries such as Chile and Mexico, reducing the purchase of ultra-processed foods.

Canada is another country that is set to roll out its FOP label on January 1st, 2026. The warning label used here is a magnifying glass icon and bold black bars to flag products high in saturated fat, sodium, or sugar, urging users to take a closer look at what they’re eating.

The traffic light system color-codes the nutrients like sugar, salt, and fat in multiple colors, with red signaling high in content, yellow indicating medium, and green representing lower levels. Countries such as the UK, Ecuador, South Korea, and Peru have adopted the system as it easily allows shoppers to make quick comparisons between products and opt for healthier choices.

Graded or scoring systems are widely used to indicate how healthy or unhealthy a product is. One common FOPL type is the Nutri-Score system which grades products from A (healthiest) to E (unhealthiest). The system is also color-coded and has been adopted in Spain, Belgium, and Germany, among others.

Health Star Rating (½ to 5 stars) is another FOPL system used in countries such as Australia and New Zealand that provides an overall nutritional score for food products.

Instead of highlighting unhealthy foods, some nations use logos to promote better food choices. Nordic countries, Belgium, and a few others have the Keyhole and Choices logo, which are placed on nutrient-dense foods that meet specific health criteria.

The U.S. FDA’s proposed system, as well as the Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) system, are used in some EU countries and focus on exact numbers rather than symbols or colors. These labels display percentage daily values (%DV) for key nutrients, giving shoppers precise data on how a product fits into their daily diet.

The U.S. is now inching closer to making it a landmark policy—one that could be as recognizable as the Nutrition Facts label itself.

Taking cues from global FOPL systems, the FDA has gone a step further, conducting an extensive review of scientific literature, consumer focus groups, and a peer-reviewed experimental study before determining which FOP design is most effective in helping consumers make healthier choices.

FOPL affects food packages across the globe. Whether it’s a mandatory requirement or a voluntary move, brands must ensure their updated packaging meets compliance requirements without losing out on consumer trust or brand value.

This means understanding your product’s nutritional profile. From analyzing key nutrients and calculating their % Daily Value (DV) to rethinking the packaging design or formulations, a lot goes into making sure your product gets picked off the shelves.

Start by auditing the existing Nutrition Facts panel to determine the levels of key nutrients that will be required on the front of the package. This includes:

• Saturated fat
• Sodium
• Added sugars
• Calories (depending on the labeling format)

Understanding these values helps anticipate potential regulatory challenges and consumer perceptions.

Each labeling regulation outlines which nutrients must be declared and how they should be classified. Some formats group nutrients into:

• Low, Medium, or High (e.g., Chile’s warning labels, UK’s traffic light system)
• Nutri-Score (an overall rating based on positive and negative nutrients)
• Daily Value % (displaying nutrient amounts per serving)

Regulations often require brands to express nutrient levels as a percentage of the daily recommended intake. This helps consumers quickly understand whether a product is contributing too much of a particular nutrient to their daily diet.

For example:

• A food with more than 20% DV of sodium may be classified as “high in sodium.”
• A food with less than 5% DV of added sugar may be classified as “low in sugar.”

Ensuring accuracy at this stage prevents regulatory setbacks.

Different markets have different FOP labeling regulations. Brands must choose the right system based on where their products are sold:

• Traffic Light System: Uses red, amber, and green to indicate high, medium, or low levels of nutrients. (UK, Ecuador)
• Nutri-Score: Assigns an overall score from A to E, balancing both positive and negative nutrients. (France, Germany, Spain)
• Warning Labels: Black hexagonal or circular symbols that flag products high in sugar, sodium, or fat. (Chile, Mexico, Argentina)
• Health Star Rating: A 5-star system where healthier products earn higher ratings. (Australia, New Zealand)

Understanding regional regulatory frameworks is critical to avoiding compliance issues and fines.

The effectiveness of an FOP label depends on its visual clarity and ease of interpretation. A well-designed label should:

✔ Be easy to read at a glance
✔ Use bold fonts and simple layouts
✔ Display consistent placement across products
✔ Ensure high contrast for visibility

Brands should also test multiple label designs to determine which layout resonates most with consumers and encourages healthier purchasing decisions.

If a product is flagged as “high in” for certain nutrients, brands may need to reformulate it to meet healthier thresholds without compromising taste or quality.

Regulations governing FOP labeling vary widely by country. Brands must cross-check their label format, wording, and nutrient thresholds against official guidelines to avoid penalties. This may include:

• Font size and placement requirements
• Specific wording for warnings
• Thresholds for “high in” claims

Front-of-Pack labels will change how consumers choose food products. For brands, this means making quick, informed decisions about product formulas and label compliance.

The question is: Will your brand be ready?