Peter’s Memo: Goodbye Red 3, hello better labels

In the closing days of the Biden administration, CSPI saw a rush of good news that could make it easier for us to eat safer, healthier foods.

CSPI supports U.S. Surgeon General’s call for cancer warnings on alcohol labels

U.S. Consumers Support Improved Alcohol Labeling

Why alcohol labels should have nutrition and allergen info

Nutrition labels are required on foods but not alcoholic beverages. Here’s why regulators should require calorie, allergen, and ingredient labels on alcohol.

Alcohol labeling sign on comment to Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Current alcohol labels do not provide the information that consumers need to make informed purchasing and consumption decisions. The undersigned organizations call on the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to expeditiously propose rules mandating on-package labeling of alcohol content, nutritional information, major food allergens, and ingredients. Alcohol content information is necessary to fully inform consumers and help them consume alcohol in safe amounts and prevent alcohol-related accidents and deaths. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend that adults who choose to drink alcohol should limit intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women (on the days in which alcohol is consumed). Other health authorities have adopted stricter recommendations (e.g., Canada’s guidance recommends 2 standard drinks or less per week). Unfortunately, many Americans drink in excess of recommended guidelines. Click "View Resource" to keep reading.

Alcohol labeling written comment to Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Improving alcohol labeling is essential for promoting transparency, health, and safety. Excess alcohol consumption is associated with various harms including injuries, motor vehicle accidents, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Alcohol content labeling increases consumer awareness of the contents of alcoholic beverages and could potentially impact drinking behavior. Alcohol is calorie-dense and contributes substantially to the average daily energy intake of those who drink. Many alcoholic beverages also contain carbohydrates, sugars, and other nutrients, and they can contain a wide range of ingredients and food additives. Additionally, alcoholic beverages can contain major food allergens like wheat, milk, egg, nuts, and shellfish, awareness of which can be a matter of life or death for people with food allergies. Click "View Resource" to keep reading.

Oral testimony for Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau listening sessions on alcohol labeling

CSPI urges TTB to prioritize transparency and health over corporate interests as it drafts its rulemakings, and to delay no further in issuing proposed rules on mandatory alcohol content, nutrition, ingredient, and allergen labeling. Click the link below to read the testimony in its entirety.

Coalition calls for nutrition, ingredient, and allergen labeling on alcoholic beverages

Request for leadership to accelerate publication of promised alcohol labeling rules

For over 20 years, advocates have been pressing TTB to require a “Serving Facts” label that tells consumers the serving size, amount of alcohol (in fluid ounces or grams) and calories per serving, the percent alcohol by volume, the number of standard drinks per container and other needed information to make responsible drinking decisions. In response, TTB deliberated, asked for public comment, issued draft rules requiring mandatory labeling that were never finalized, and in 2013, settled on a voluntary rule that has been largely ineffective. Click the link below to read the letter in its entirety.