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Topical Area: Policies and Regulations

Policies and Regulations (Poster Session)

(P21-004-23) Implementation of Voluntary Nutrition Labeling Policies on Wine and Beer Sold in the United States

Sunday, July 23, 2023

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET

Location: Poster Board 158

Presenting Author(s)

Eva Greenthal, MS, MPH

Senior Policy Scientist
Center for Science in the Public Interest
BEDFORD, Massachusetts, United States

Co-Author(s)

SS

Sarah Sorscher, JD

Center for Science in the Public Interest
Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States

Disclosure(s):

Eva Greenthal, MS, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: Unlike other foods and beverages, most alcoholic beverages sold in the United States are not required to have serving, nutrition, and ingredient information on their labels. In 2013, federal regulators established a voluntary “Serving Facts” label that includes serving size, servings per container, alcohol by volume (ABV), alcohol content in fluid ounces, calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein. This study assessed the prevalence of “Serving Facts” and related information on beer and wine labels.

Methods: We obtained lists of the top 150 beer and wine brands by 2020 sales volume and searched the government’s public online alcohol label certification database for images of labels from each brand. We included the most recent available labels approved in 2021. Labels were inspected for presence of: “Serving Facts”; “Alcohol Facts” (similar to “Serving Facts” but excludes calories and nutrients); a Statement of Average Analysis (SAA) (includes calories, carbohydrates, fat, and protein and is required on products making calorie or carbohydrate claims); serving size; servings per container; calorie or carbohydrate claims (e.g., “light” or “low carb”); ingredient lists; and ingredient claims.

Results: The public database contained labels from 65 beer brands and 67 wine brands. Eighteen beers (28%) and zero wines had the full “Serving Facts” label. One beer had the “Alcohol Facts” label.

In addition, 23 beers and one wine had SAA. Ten of those beers were required to bear the SAA because they made calorie/carbohydrate claims while 13 beers and the wine disclosed SAA voluntarily.

Three wines (4%) listed serving size and servings per container on their labels, but the serving sizes were non-standardized: one glass of wine was described as 5 ounces of 7% ABV wine, 5.6 ounces of 12.5% ABV wine, and 6 ounces of 13% ABV wine.

Eleven beers (17%) and no wines had ingredient lists, while 14 beers (22%) and 8 wines (12%) had voluntary ingredient claims, including Contains Wheat, Contains Shellfish, May Contain Gluten, No Added Sugar, No High Fructose Corn Syrup, No Artificial Flavors, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Vegan Friendly.

Conclusions: Beer and wine brands have not consistently adopted serving, nutrition, or ingredient labels despite voluntary government guidance. Mandatory rules may be necessary to ensure consumers have access to this information.

Funding Sources: None