The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will host a public meeting on September 27, 2019 to discuss FDA’s efforts to modernize standards of identity and provide information about changes the FDA could make to existing standards of identity.

This public meeting is part of FDA’s Nutrition Innovation Strategy, which seeks to improve nutrition and the healthfulness of foods and empower consumers to make better and more informed decisions about their diets and health.  Specifically, FDA is considering modernizing food standards of identity in a way that will (1) protect consumers against economic adulteration, (2) maintain the basic nature, essential characteristics and nutritional integrity of food, and (3) promote industry innovation and provide flexibility to encourage manufacturers to produce healthier foods

FDA initially issued the standards of identity to protect consumers against economic adulteration, maintain the integrity of food, and reflect consumers’ expectations about food.  However, because the standards were issued many years ago, FDA and stakeholders are concerned that that some standards are out of date and may impede innovation.  In an effort to provide consumers more nutritious food options, FDA is particularly interested in changes that could be made across categories of standardized foods, known as horizontal changes, to provide flexibility for manufacturers to develop healthier foods.

The meeting will be held on September 27, 2019 from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel.  Attendees are encouraged to register online to attend the meeting in person or via live webcast before September 20, 2019.  The meeting will include introductory presentations, panel presentations, oral comments, and breakout sessions.  Attendees interested in making oral comments in-person at the public meeting should sign up by September 12, 2019.

FDA is also accepting written comments on modernizing standards of identity until November 12, 2019.