Short answer: The FDA’s 2016 update was the biggest change to the Nutrition Facts label in more than 20 years. It made calories and serving size larger and bolder, added a line for added sugars, updated serving sizes to match what people actually eat, required vitamin D and potassium, removed “Calories from Fat,” and updated Daily Values, such as sodium from 2,400 to 2,300 mg. Large manufacturers had to comply by January 1, 2020 and smaller ones by January 1, 2021.
The label on today’s packages looks familiar, but almost every line changed. This guide compares the old and new Nutrition Facts labels, lists the updated Daily Values, gives the full timeline, and covers the newer FDA changes since 2020 that affect what you see on a package.
Old vs New Nutrition Facts Label
| Feature | Old label (1993) | New label (2016 rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | Regular type | Large, bold type |
| Serving size and servings per container | Small type at the top | Larger type; serving size in bold |
| Calories from Fat | Listed | Removed, because the type of fat matters more than the amount |
| Added sugars | Not shown | “Includes X g Added Sugars” with a % Daily Value |
| Required vitamins and minerals | Vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron | Vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium (vitamins A and C now optional) |
| Vitamin and mineral amounts | % Daily Value only | Actual amount (mg or mcg) plus % Daily Value |
| Serving sizes | Based on 1970s–80s eating habits | Updated to reflect what people actually eat |
| Packages eaten in one or two sittings | Could list 2+ servings | Single-serving or dual-column labels required |
| Footnote | Table of Daily Values for 2,000 and 2,500 calories | Plain explanation of what % Daily Value means |
The 8 Most Important Nutrition Facts Label Changes
1. Bigger, bolder calories and serving size
The type size for calories, servings per container and serving size increased, and calories and serving size are in bold, so the numbers people check most are easiest to find.
2. Added sugars are listed
A new “Includes Added Sugars” line shows grams and % Daily Value, based on a Daily Value of 50 g. Added sugars are sugars added during processing, plus sugars from syrups, honey and concentrated juices. Single-ingredient sugars like honey and maple syrup show only the % Daily Value, not grams of added sugar.
3. Realistic serving sizes
By law, serving sizes reflect how much people actually eat, not how much they should eat. Eating habits had changed since 1993, so several reference amounts went up. A serving of ice cream went from ½ cup to ⅔ cup, and a serving of soda from 8 to 12 ounces. Yogurt went down, from 8 to 6 ounces, to match typical containers.
4. One-serving and dual-column labels
Packages between one and two servings, such as a 20-ounce soda or a 15-ounce can of soup, must be labeled as one serving because people usually finish them in one sitting. Larger packages that could be eaten at once or over several sittings, like a 24-ounce soda or a pint of ice cream, must show both “per serving” and “per package” columns.
5. New required nutrients
Vitamin D and potassium are now required, because many Americans do not get enough of them. Calcium and iron are still required. Vitamins A and C became optional because deficiencies are now rare in the US.
6. “Calories from Fat” removed
Total fat, saturated fat and trans fat are still required, but “Calories from Fat” was dropped because research shows the type of fat matters more than the total amount.
7. Actual amounts for vitamins and minerals
Labels must show the actual amount of vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium, such as “Calcium 260 mg,” not just a percentage.
8. Updated Daily Values and a clearer footnote
Daily Values were updated using newer science (see the table below). The footnote now explains that “the % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”
Old vs New Daily Values
Daily Values are the reference amounts used to calculate the % DV on the label. These are the values for adults and children 4 years and older.
| Nutrient | Old Daily Value | New Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | 65 g | 78 g |
| Saturated fat | 20 g | 20 g (unchanged) |
| Cholesterol | 300 mg | 300 mg (unchanged) |
| Sodium | 2,400 mg | 2,300 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 300 g | 275 g |
| Dietary fiber | 25 g | 28 g |
| Added sugars | None | 50 g |
| Vitamin D | 400 IU (10 mcg) | 20 mcg |
| Calcium | 1,000 mg | 1,300 mg |
| Iron | 18 mg | 18 mg (unchanged) |
| Potassium | 3,500 mg | 4,700 mg |
Because Daily Values changed, the same food can show a different % DV on the new label. For example, a food with 1,000 mg of calcium was 100% DV on the old label and is about 77% DV on the new one. For how to use % DV when you shop, see how to read nutrition labels. To see the current Daily Values at work, build a sample label with our free Nutrition Facts label generator.
Nutrition Facts Label Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Nutrition Labeling and Education Act makes nutrition labels mandatory on most packaged foods |
| 1994 | The original Nutrition Facts label appears on packages |
| 2006 | Trans fat added to the label |
| May 2016 | FDA finalizes the new Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels and updated serving sizes |
| January 1, 2020 | Compliance deadline for manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales |
| January 1, 2021 | Compliance deadline for smaller manufacturers |
| July 1, 2021 | Deadline for most single-ingredient sugars (such as honey and maple syrup) and certain cranberry products |
| December 2024 | FDA finalizes an updated definition of the “healthy” claim (compliance by February 2028) |
| January 2025 | FDA proposes a front-of-package “Nutrition Info box,” and revokes authorization of Red No. 3 in food |
| April 2025 | FDA announces plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes |
| February 2026 | FDA allows “no artificial colors” claims on products colored only with naturally derived colors |
Changes Since 2020: What’s New on Food Labels
- The “healthy” claim: foods labeled “healthy” must now contain a meaningful amount of a food group, such as fruit, vegetables, dairy or whole grains, and meet limits on added sugars, sodium and saturated fat. Foods like salmon, nuts, olive oil and water now qualify. Companies have until February 2028 to comply. See what label claims legally mean.
- Front-of-package nutrition box: the FDA proposed in January 2025 a box on the front of packages rating saturated fat, sodium and added sugars as Low, Med or High. As of October 2026 it has not been finalized. See what the research says about front-of-package labels.
- Synthetic food dyes: Red No. 3 must come out of foods by January 2027, and the FDA has asked manufacturers to phase out other petroleum-based dyes. This will change many ingredient lists.
- Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030: the new guidelines advise no added sugars and a maximum of 10 g per meal, which makes the Added Sugars line the quickest number to check. See the Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030.
Does the New Label Apply to Supplements?
Yes. The Supplement Facts panel was updated at the same time with the new Daily Values and units, such as micrograms for vitamin D and dietary folate equivalents for folate. Supplements still use a Supplement Facts panel instead of Nutrition Facts. See how supplements are labeled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed on the new Nutrition Facts label?
Larger and bolder calories and serving size, a new Added Sugars line, updated serving sizes, required vitamin D and potassium, the removal of “Calories from Fat,” actual amounts for key vitamins and minerals, and updated Daily Values.
When did the new Nutrition Facts label take effect?
Manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales had to use it by January 1, 2020. Smaller manufacturers had until January 1, 2021, and most single-ingredient sugars until July 1, 2021.
Why did the FDA change the Nutrition Facts label?
The old label was more than 20 years old. The FDA updated it to reflect newer nutrition science, current eating habits and the links between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease.
Why were vitamins A and C removed?
They are now optional rather than removed. Deficiencies of vitamins A and C are rare in the US, while many people fall short on vitamin D and potassium, which became required.
What is the Daily Value for added sugars?
50 grams per day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. That is about 10% of calories.
Are nutrition label numbers exact?
No. FDA rules allow some variation. See how accurate nutrition labels are. Declared amounts are also rounded by fixed rules, explained in FDA rounding rules for Nutrition Facts labels.
Sources and Further Reading
- Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label. US Food and Drug Administration.
- 21 CFR 101.9: Nutrition labeling of food, including Daily Value tables (eCFR).
- Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling. US Food and Drug Administration.
- Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling. US Food and Drug Administration.
