NJ Representative visits Rutgers to call for better labeling on food products
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) held a press conference on Tuesday at the Food Science Building on Cook Campus to advocate for legislation on modernizing food labels.
Pallone and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the bill to the U.S. Congress, named the Food Labeling Modernization Act , in April. If passed, the act would improve labels on food packaging to make them easier for consumers to understand.
The act calls for the nutrition labeling system to be placed on the front of a food package and to strengthen laws surrounding marketing that confuse or mislead consumers when comparing food products.
On Tuesday, Pallone discussed the changes proposed in the legislation, including requiring the Food and Drug Administration to specifically define the word "natural."
"Consumers have a right to know what's in the food they are buying," Pallone said. "The Food Labeling Modernization Act will update our nation's food labeling requirements to provide consumers with the transparency they deserve so they can make the right food choices for their families at the grocery store."
