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Esko reveals unique solution to meet new FDA
regulations on food labelling
Ghent (Belgium), November 17, 2016 – Following an announcement earlier this year that the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is introducing a modernized Nutrition Facts label for packaged
foods, Esko has revealed a comprehensive solution to help manufacturers to adhere to the new
regulations.
“The new regulations require food and beverage manufacturers to update all of their packaging
artwork for product sold in the US, which is a complex challenge due to the sheer volume of work
and the need to ensure the layout of the label is exactly as described by the FDA,” said Philippe
Adam, Vice President of Global Marketing at Esko. “Our unique solution allows manufacturers to
establish a methodology and clear process for dealing with this challenge in a very simple way, as
well as preparing manufacturers with an established workflow for future regulatory compliance of
their packaging.”
Esko’s solution employs its latest technology to establish a reliable workflow and simple approval
and quality control capabilities, as well as nutritional facts table templates for easy placement into
packaging artwork, which will enable rapid development of compliant packaging.
Changes to the new Nutrition Facts label include a refreshed design, with increased type size for
‘Calories,’ ‘Servings per container,’ and ‘Serving size’, the addition of ‘Added sugars,’ in grams and
as percentage of Daily Value, and an update to many serving sizes to bring them more in line with
current consumer habits.
Matching the method to the manufacturer
Depending on the needs of each individual organization, Esko has devised three clear methods to
implement the new solution.
“We have taken a very comprehensive approach to finding exactly the right solution to this challenge
and we want to ensure each organization can utilize it regardless of how they currently manage their
data,” said Adam. “Each organization can choose the method most suited to its current situation
while using updated Nutritional Facts templates and be confident that they will optimize their
nutritional labeling process and create a single source of truth.”
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Method 1 starts with the Brand Owner. If your data resides in different systems or in files, you can
create nutritional facts tables (NFTs) from scratch, entering data into templates, which are
centralized for review and approval before being placed into artwork (see schematic below).
Method 2 starts with the artwork. If your data source is your current artwork and your data is not
digitally managed, Esko provides a plug-in to Adobe® Illustrator® that connects it to workflow and
provides NFT templates. You can then insert a new NFT template into the artwork, update the
nutritional information and route for review and approval. In the background the plug-in automatically
centralizes the data, making future updates quick and easy.
Method 3 is full system integration. If your nutritional information is available in a structured fashion
within other external systems, you can automate the data collection process required in creating or
updating the NFTs, so your data comes from external sources instead of being manually entered. It
is then routed for review and approval and is automatically centralized for future updates.
“These regulations will ultimately provide more clarity for consumers, but transitions like these can
be complex and disruptive,” said Adam. “We believe it is our job to help manufacturers transition to
the new templates in a seamless manner, well in advance of the 2018 deadline. With the solution we
have developed, we believe we are uniquely placed to do so, and we have developed three tailored
methods which manufacturers can choose from based on their current level of need.”
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Would you like to find out more?
Esko is conducting a series of educational webinars to explain and demonstrate the solution and
three different methods in more detail. A recording of the first webinar is available by clicking here
and the next live webinar will be held on November 30th, 11AM ET. If you are interested in
participating in one of the webinars or you would like to talk to one of our specialists to find out more,
please contact [email protected]
About Esko (www.esko.com)
Esko is a global supplier of integrated solutions for the packaging, labels, sign and display industries.
Esko products and services help customers manage, create and produce better labels, packaging,
signs and displays.
Portfolio
The Esko product portfolio supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners,
retailers, designers, premedia and trade shops, packaging manufacturers, and converters. For 9 out of
10 retail packages, Esko solutions are used in packaging management, asset management, artwork
creation, structural design, prepress, 3D visualization, flexo plate making, workflow automation, quality
assurance, sample-making, palletization, supply chain collaboration and/or the production of signage
and displays.
The Esko solutions consist of an extensive suite of software and two hardware product lines: CDI flexo
computer-to-plate imagers and Kongsberg digital cutting systems, complemented with professional
services, training and consultancy.
Enfocus, with its suite of automation solutions and PDF quality control tools for printers, publishers,
and graphic designers, is an Esko subsidiary. MediaBeacon, with its digital asset management (DAM)
solutions is also part of the Esko family.
Facts & numbers
Esko employs about 1,500 people worldwide. Its direct sales and service organization covers Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific, Japan and China regions and is
complemented by a network of distribution partners in more than 50 countries.
Esko is headquartered in Gent, Belgium, and has R&D and manufacturing facilities in five European
countries, the United States, China and India. Esko is a Danaher company (www.danaher.com).
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Follow Esko on
. For more information, visit www.esko.com or contact:
P.R. agencies
Corporate and EMEA
Dorien Cooreman
duomedia
Tel: +32 2 560 21 50
[email protected]
Esko
Corporate
Jef Stoffels
Director Corporate Marketing
Tel: +32 9 216 90 32
[email protected]
Americas
Irvin Press
Press+
Tel: +1 508 384 0608
[email protected]
EMEA
Bruno Vermeulen
EMEA Marketing Manager
Tel: +32 9 216 93 09
[email protected]
All press releases, as well as corresponding product pictures, are available at the press section
at www.esko.com
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