Jan 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

on Tuesday proposed that packaged foods require a nutrition

label on the front, in its latest push under the outgoing Biden

administration to help consumers make healthier choices.

The proposal plays a key role in the agency's nutrition

priorities, which are part of a government-wide effort in

fighting the country's chronic disease crisis, including health

problems such as diabetes and heart illnesses.

If finalized, the proposal would give consumers readily

visible information at front about a food's saturated fat,

sodium and added sugars - the three nutrients directly linked

with chronic diseases when consumed in excess - with details

that interpret these contents as "low," "med" or "high".

The World Health Organization in its draft guidelines in

October had said packaged food and drinks should have

easy-to-read nutritional information on the front of the

products.

Certain countries such as Australia, Belgium, Chile, France

and Italy have made front-of-package labeling either mandatory

or voluntary for companies so that people can make

better-informed choices and opt for healthier foods.

"Nearly everyone knows or cares for someone with a chronic

disease that is due, in part, to the food we eat. It is time we

make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go," said FDA

Commissioner Robert Califf.

The proposed rule, if finalized, would likely impact

companies from PepsiCo ( PEP ) to Kraft Heinz ( KHC ) and

Hershey. The companies did not immediately respond to a

Reuters request for comment.

Food manufacturers will need to add a nutrition info box to

most products three years after the final rule's effective date

for businesses with $10 million or more in annual food sales and

four years after the effective date for businesses with less

than $10 million in annual food sales.

The FDA's move comes more than a month after Califf was

grilled by a senate committee led by Bernie Sanders in

addressing the country's obesity epidemic and the health

agency's regulation of the food and beverage industry.

The hearing by the senate committee was on the heels of U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Robert F Kennedy Jr,

who has been critical of packaged foods, to lead the Department

of Health and Human Services.