TRUTH in Labeling Act

Bill Summary: TRUTH in Labeling Act (H.R. 4725)

Bill Number: H.R. 4725

Session: 119th Congress

Title: Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness in Labeling Act (TRUTH in Labeling Act)

Status: Introduced (July 23, 2025); Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

🎯 Purpose and Intent

The TRUTH in Labeling Act aims to improve public health by strengthening nutrition labeling requirements on food packaging. The bill is driven by findings that the average American consumes excessive amounts of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, increasing the risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and hypertension.

The primary goal is to move critical nutritional warnings from the back-of-package "Nutrition Facts" panel to the front-of-package (FOP), making health information more accessible to all consumers, particularly those with lower nutrition literacy or limited time.

🔑 Key Provisions

1. Mandated Front-of-Package (FOP) Labels

The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to finalize rules requiring food labels on the "principal display panel" (the front of the package) to identify high levels of:
* Added Sugars
* Sodium
* Saturated Fats

Each of these nutrients must have its own separate label featuring the words "High in" and a conspicuous exclamation point icon.

2. Non-Nutritive Sweetener Disclosure

To prevent food companies from replacing sugar/salt with artificial sweeteners (which the bill notes are not recommended for children), the Act requires:
* A statement on the front panel declaring the presence of non-nutritive sweeteners.
* A factual advisory stating that these sweeteners are not recommended for children.

3. Expanded Protection for Children

The bill specifically extends these labeling requirements to foods intended for:
* Infants (through 12 months of age).
* Children (ages 1 through 4 years).
(Note: Infant formula is exempt from these specific requirements).

4. Updated Nutritional Standards

The Secretary of HHS must establish or update Daily Reference Values and percent Daily Values for infants and toddlers (ages 1–3) to align with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

👥 Who is Affected?

• Food Manufacturers: Must redesign packaging to include FOP warnings and non-nutritive sweetener disclosures.
• Consumers: Will have immediate, visual access to high-risk nutrient warnings without needing to search for the nutrition table.
• Children and Parents: Specifically targeted beneficiaries through enhanced labeling on youth-oriented foods and warnings about artificial sweeteners.
• HHS Secretary: Tasked with finalizing the rule and establishing new reference values.

⏳ Timeline and Procedural Aspects

• Deadline: The Secretary of HHS must finalize the "Food Labeling: Front-of-Package Nutrition Information" rule within 180 days of the Act's enactment.
• Implementation Flexibility: If establishing the new Daily Reference Values for infants/toddlers would delay the overall rule, the Secretary may issue the final rule first and revise it with the specific values as soon as practicable.