The American College of Cardiology (ACC) recently released concise clinical guidance regarding nutrition and front-of-package labeling, Nutrition and Front-of-Package Labeling as a Catalyst for CV Health. Because dietary components like added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk, the ACC released this guidance to support transparent, evidence-based labeling policies that prioritize public health and serve as a catalyst for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
The following summarizes some key elements of the concise clinical guidance provided by the ACC regarding nutrition and food labeling as a catalyst for cardiovascular health. View the full-text version of the guidance to view the document in its entirety and view the figures and tables created by the ACC.
Key Components of the 2025 ACC Concise Clinical Guidance on Nutrition and Food Labeling
The ACC guidance contains a table that outlines the impact various nutritional factors have on cardiovascular health. For example, consuming added sugars leads to an increase in cardiovascular mortality, while consuming fiber reduces cardiovascular disease risk. Throughout its concise clinical guidance on front-of-package labels being a catalyst for cardiovascular health, the ACC emphasizes that clinicians should counsel patients on nutrition label interpretation and that patient-facing education should illustrate a clear understanding of what a healthy diet includes.
The guidance labels saturated fats, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, added sugars, high sodium intake, and ultra-processed foods as key contributors to cardiovascular harm. While dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, plant-based proteins, and potassium-rich foods are labeled as being cardioprotective.
A second table in the ACC guidance summarizes nutrition and lifestyle recommendations from clinical guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), ACC, and other societies. The table describes the target population, key recommendations, and the level of recommendation.
Also provided in the ACC guidance are two figures designed to guide clinicians on optimizing nutrition counseling. Figure 3, Guiding Heart-Healthy Good Choices with FOP Labels, is a flow chart to help direct clinicians on patient education that includes guideline recommendations and heart-healthy eating plans. In Figure 4, clinicians can find a checklist of action items for nutrition counseling.
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