Michelle Obama recently announced some changes to the U.S. food labeling rules to provide consumers with the information they need. The average serving size listed on the label is frequently far less than what the average American eats.

For example, some drink companies sell 20-ounce bottles as 2.5 servings, but it is likely consumers drink the full bottle. Same with ice cream. The serving size is 1/2 a cup, but, especially with these new flavors, who only eats that much?


Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park

In some categories, serving sizes will decrease, like for yogurt. Labeling would reflect a 6-ounce container, not an 8-ounce one.

These changes are aimed at slowing the obesity epidemic, as nearly half of Americans could be obese by 2020.

The label may look something like this:

Food Label by FDA

Photo by FDA

Changes may include:
1. New serving sizes
2. Calorie count given larger and bolder
3. Calories from fat no longer listed separately
4. A line to spell out added sugar
5. List vitamin D and potassium

The relabeling, although estimated to cost the industry $2  billion to implement, may actually save billions of dollars by decreasing obesity.