The National Potato Council (NPC) joined more than 60 organizations representing farmers, manufacturers, small businesses and retailers in supporting the Accurate Labels Act, introduced June 7 by Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.).
“The potato industry strongly supports this common-sense legislation,” says John Keeling, the NPC’s executive vice president and CEO. “Consumers should be provided with information they can trust about the products they purchase. Verifiable science-based information should be the foundation of these disclosures.”
The legislation will amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act to:
- Ensure consumers have access to clear, accurate and meaningful product labels;
- Establish science-based criteria for all state and local labeling requirements that exceed current federal standards;
- Allow state-mandated product information to be provided through smartphone-enabled “smart labels” and on websites;
- Ensure that covered product information is risk-based; and
- Will maintain current federal laws related to allergens, nutrition facts and medicines.
The NPC is a member of the Coalition for Accurate Product Labels, which advocates for meaningful, science-based information about the products consumers buy and use.