The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is considering whether to require nutritional information on alcoholic beverages such as what the Food and Drug Administration has long required on other foods and beverages. The TTB is currently taking public comment – including those from the industry – until March 29.
The nutritional labelling requirement for alcohol, which would require the amount of calories, carbs, fat, protein, etc. on bottles and cans of wine, spirits and beer, has been moving ahead slowly over the past few years. If the ruling is adopted, it could mean added costs for brewers to have each brand analyzed by a lab to determine the content.
But there are a lot of valuables in place, including whether the requirement would be applied only to those alcoholic beverages shipped out of state, the accuracy requirements, use-up period on existing labels, etc.
Although the major trade associations have submitted comments, including the Brewers Association, individuals can submit comments here.
More background on this issue at Beer & Brewing here.