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H.R. 3317 (111th): Trans Fat Truth in Labeling Act of 2009

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The text of the bill below is as of Jul 23, 2009 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

I

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3317

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2009

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To direct the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to revise the Federal regulations applicable to the declaration of the trans fat content of a food on the label and in the labeling of the food when such content is less than 0.5 gram.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Trans Fat Truth in Labeling Act of 2009.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds as follows:

(1)

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies advises the United States Government on nutritional science for use in public policy and product labeling programs.

(2)

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine issued dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids and made recommendations regarding consumption of trans fat.

(3)

These recommendations included a statement that trans fatty acids are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health.

(4)

The Institute of Medicine concluded that both saturated and trans fats increase levels of LDL cholesterol and trans fats may also lower levels of HDL cholesterol.

(5)

A 2006 New England Journal of Medicine scientific review stated that from a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans fatty acids results in considerable potential harm but no apparent benefit.

3.

Declaration of trans fat content of less than 0.5 gram per serving on the label or in the labeling of food

(a)

Requirement

Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall promulgate a final regulation revising section 101.9(c)(2)(ii), and such other provisions as may be necessary, of the Code of Federal Regulations to require that—

(1)

if the trans fat content of a serving of a food is less than 0.5 gram, and

(2)

if the trans fat content of a serving of the food is declared in the nutrition information on the label or in the labeling of the food,

the trans fat content of a serving of the food shall be expressed through the use of an asterisk or other notation stating that the trans fat content of a serving is less than 0.5 gram (instead of expressing the trans fat content as zero).
(b)

Effective date

The regulation promulgated under subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.