Nutrition labels on the front of food packages are coming to a grocery shelf near you.  

Before that happens, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to know what consumers want to see on so-called “front-of-pack” labeling and on shelf tags in retail stores.

FDA is asking the public to provide their comments and any information that might help the nation’s top food safety agency make front-of-package labeling useful.  FDA says it wants to make point-of-purchase nutrition information more helpful to consumers.

This includes information on the main display panel of food products, called “front-of-pack” labeling, as well as information on those little on-shelf tags in retail stores.

The agency is seeking information about:

-the extent to which consumers notice, use, and understand nutrition symbols on front-of-pack labeling of food packages or on shelf tags in retail stores

-research that assesses and compares the effectiveness of particular approaches to front-of-pack labeling

-graphic design, marketing, and advertising data and information that can help develop better point-of-purchase nutrition information

-how point-of-purchase information may affect decisions by food manufacturers to reformulate products.

The goal of front-of-package nutrition labeling is to increase the number of consumers who readily notice, understand, and use point-of-purchase information to make better decisions about nutrition for themselves and their families.

Comments may be sent to http://www.regulations.gov/, by entering Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0210. Written comments also may be sent to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville Md., 20852.

Deadline for comments is July 28, 2010.