OMB green lights FDA eye-tracking studies on labels
From: Politico
By TARINI PARTI
With Jason Huffman and Helena Bottemiller Evich
The White House Office of Management and Budget has cleared the way for FDA to conduct experimental studies to gain a better understanding of how consumers eyes’ read food packages, including the Nutrition Facts panel, according to a Monday Federal Register notice.
The approval comes eight months after the agency asked OMB for permission and three weeks after first lady Michelle Obama unveiled two proposed re-designs for the Nutrition Facts panel at the White House.
Some food industry lawyers are scratching their heads about the timing of the approval. “FDA seems to be putting the cart before the horse,” says Bruce Silverglade, principal at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz. “This type of research should have been undertaken and completed before the agency proposed changes to the Nutrition Facts panel.”
