Government Group Proposes New Kids Nutrition Regulations

The Interagency Working Group (IWG), comprising representatives from four government agencies, has unveiled tentative, proposed standards for marketing food to children between the ages of 2 and 17. The proposal was outlined at the end of an all-day Federal Trade Commission public hearing on food marketing and childhood obesity. The IWG -- comprising the FTC, the Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, the Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Drug Administration -- has been charged with developing recommended nutritional standards for consumers under 17 by July.

The core proposed standards outlined include:

1. Standard I foods: A group of foods that would be exempt from the Standards II and III. Standard I foods would include 100% fruit and fruit juices in all forms and 100% vegetables and vegetable juices in all forms (as long as the vegetables/vegetable juices do not exceed 140 mg of sodium per "RACC," or Referenced Amount Customarily Consumed, as defined by the FDA). 100% is defined as no added nutritive or non-nutritive sweeteners, and no other functional ingredients added to the product (with the exceptions of flavoring for water, milk and yogurt).
2. Standards II and III below are meant to work together, not separately, according to the IWG. Standard II foods: These are foods that must provide a "meaningful contribution to a healthful diet" for children. The IWG is considering, and asking for input on, two possible options under this standard: Under "Option A," Standard II foods would need to contain at least 50%, by weight, of one or more of the following: fruit, vegetables, whole grain, fat-free or low-fat milk or yogurt, fish, extra-lean meat or poultry, eggs, nuts and seeds, or beans. Under "Option B," Standard II foods would need to contain one or more of the following, per RACC guidelines: 0.5 cups fruit or fruit juice; 0.6 cups vegetables or vegetable juice; 0.75 oz. equivalent of 100% whole grain; 0.75 cups milk or yogurt or 1 oz. natural cheese or 1.5 oz. processed cheese; 1.4 oz. meat equivalent of fish or extra-lean meat or poultry; 0.3 cups cooked, dry beans; 0.7 oz. nuts or seeds; or one egg or egg equivalent.
3. Standard III foods: These are nutrients to be limited. Saturated fats would be limited to 1 gram or less per RACC and not more than 15% of calories. Trans fats would be limited to zero grams (less than 0.5 grams) per RACC. Sugar would be limited to no more than 13 grams of added sugars per RACC. (For foods with a small RACC -- 30 grams or less, or two tablespoons or less -- these criteria refer to the amount per 50 grams of food.) Sodium would be limited to no more than 200 mg per portion. This is described as an "interim" level; the goal over time would decrease to 140 mg per RACC.