What is the link between these three terms? Governments establish policies, which hopefully create opportunities to promote nutrition, physical activity and health. In the U.S., the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. Policy is, or should be, based on the best data available and the totality of the evidence.
 
The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion links scientific evidence with the nutrition needs of consumers. They translate the science into education and hopefully to action. FDA works to protect the safety of the food supply and encourage innovations that will promote public health.
 
In this capacity, FDA regulates the type of nutrition information allowed in labeling. So, we have two uses of the word information: 1) scientific evidence/data used to guide policy, and 2) nutrient content, structure/function claims and health claims that manufacturers must use and can voluntarily use on packaged foods. Why does this matter?
 
The first reason is that FDA is planning to study consumer responses to nutrient content claims on fortified foods. Draft documents have been issued. The two studies will provide label images for mock products resembling actual food labels found in the market. Participants will be asked to view the labels and answer questions about their perceptions, reactions, and purchase intent. If you sell food and beverages with added nutrients, you should review this proposal. Comments are due October 15.
 
The second reason—the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans included 23 Key Recommendations for the general population and six additional Key Recommendations for specific subpopulations, e.g. women who are pregnant. Since 1980, the Guidelines have been issued and updated every 5 years. This periodic review is mandated by a 1990 law, the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act. We can anticipate that a new committee will be called soon to review the preponderance of current nutrition evidence to update the Guidelines for 2015. Now is the time to publish new evidence demonstrating the health consequences of inadequate intakes of potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin E and iron.

The reality is many people do not eat the variety and amounts of foods required to provide essential nutrients, especially while avoiding excess calorie intakes. Nutrition policy can make a difference. You too can make a difference by publishing nutrition data to guide the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.