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Federal Government Looks at Revising Wine-Labeling Laws

Changes could give consumers more information about what's in the bottle

Lynn Alley

Posted: Monday, August 15, 2005

In an effort to supply consumers with more detail about the contents of the wines they buy, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is considering a number of changes to wine-labeling laws.

The bureau, which oversees alcohol labeling and advertising, has posted a list of eight key questions in the Federal Register for which it is soliciting input from the beverage industry and consumers until Sept. 26. "At this point, we're seeking comments to help us formulate specific regulatory proposals," said TTB spokesman Arthur Resnick.

So far, the bureau has received more than 8,000 comments online, with everyone from wine producers to state politicians to religious leaders weighing in on whether alcohol labels should be more similar to those of other food products.

Last year, a TTB ruling gave wineries the right to voluntarily list calories and carbohydrates on their labels, and the bureau also recently allowed a winery to mention the amount of resveratrol--a polyphenol believed to have multiple health benefits--in some bottlings.

Among the TTB's questions is whether nutritional labeling--of calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat contents--should become mandatory for all wines. The bureau is also asking whether wineries should be required to list all ingredients used in a wine's production, including processing agents. If such a change was implemented, winemakers might have to list fining agents, such as egg whites and isinglass (a gelatin made from fish), and any other additives that are potential allergens.

Other major wine-producing countries have different labeling regulations, such as Australia (which, for example, requires the listing of allergens), Canada and European Union members. The TTB is questioning whether it should bring its rules into line with these countries, as well as with U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling regulations.

Resnick said that the possible revision of labeling laws was prompted by inquiries from industry and consumer interest groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

George Hacker, director of the CSPI's alcohol policies project, said the group is seeking changes to enable consumers to make more responsible decisions about alcohol consumption. "We would like to see information related to calories, serving size, and a statement of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines advice on moderate drinking [no more than two drinks per day for men, one drink for women], as well as a list of ingredients, especially potential allergens, on wine labels," he said.

While some of the organizations and individuals responding to the TTB's questions agreed with CSPI, others wrote that including nutrient content on the labels could mislead consumers. And still others took the opportunity to argue for strengthening the current label warnings about drinking.

The Wine Institute, an organization that represents California wineries, has not issued an opinion to date. "We do want socially responsible education and information on the label, but we really haven't reached a consensus about what that is yet," said communications manager Gladys Horiuchi. "We're planning on discussing the matter at length at our public policy committee meeting later this month."

However, several owners of small wineries wrote to say that the burden of implementing certain labeling changes would prove economically disastrous to their businesses. J. Kenichi Takahashi of Napa Vineyards, for example, accused CSPI of being "engaged in a transparent harassment of the alcohol beverage industry."

After Sept. 26, the bureau will go through the formal process of formulating proposed rule changes and seeking more public input. "It is incumbent upon us to consider all substantive comments from all interested parties equally and fairly before making any final decisions," Resnick said. "These decisions are not based on which side of an issue gets the most votes. We need to take into consideration such things as economic factors and scientific findings that are submitted as part of the process."

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