FDA Relaxes Nutrition Facts and Menu Labeling Requirements for Restaurants and Food Manufacturers During COVID-19 Emergency

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued two temporary food labeling guidance documents that attempt to balance industry supply and demand during the novel coronavirus pandemic.As reported every day in the news, kitchens across the country are shuttering often with inventory on hand and retailers cannot stock their shelves fast enough to meet consumer demand as panic-buying abounds. As provided in the FDA guidance documents, to facilitate the sale of food that would go unused by restaurants or food manufacturers due to dine-in service restrictions, and to aid in the distribution of food during the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA is exercising enforcement discretion and will not challenge the sale of packaged foods directly to consumers as long as a label with some basic information is included or take action against chain restaurants that are not able to comply with the menu labeling requirements.

Labeling on Packaged Food Sold by Restaurants and Food Manufacturing FacilitiesOn…