Pear Fiber
USDA bulks up fruit label info

Pear Bureau NW graphic
Pears’ nutritional value continues to stack up.

News staff writer
August 5, 2006

This week pears received an extra nutritional nod from the Food and Drug Administration with the release of new labeling values that boost the fruit’s published fiber value by 50 percent.

Pears are thick on the trees in Hood River County, the largest pear-growing county in the United States.
Already listed as the top fiber fruit on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans at four grams per serving, a medium pear (about the size of a tennis ball), now packs even more fibrous punch with 6 grams of fiber — about 24 percent of the recommended daily intake for most adults.

“This is great news for consumers seeking tasty, nutritious sources of fiber,” said Kevin Moffitt, CEO, Pear Bureau Northwest. “The updated information provides consumers with a much more accurate picture of the enormous fiber value pears offer in a sweet, refreshing package.”

Pear Bureau Northwest, a nonprofit representing 1,600 Oregon and Washington pear growers (home to 84 percent of the nation’s fresh harvest), worked with the FDA as they amended the nutrition labeling regulations of the 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits, vegetables and fish in the United States.

The new regulations will officially take effect January 2007.

“This is great news for consumers seeking tasty, nutritious sources of fiber,” said Kevin Moffitt, CEO, Pear Bureau Northwest. “The updated information provides consumers with a much more accurate picture of the enormous fiber value pears offer in a sweet, refreshing package.”

Eating adequate fiber encourages healthy digestive function, helps reduce cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, consuming more fiber increases satiety, helping to reduce overall caloric intake. In fact, a June 2006 study by the American Dietetic Association pointed specifically to the lack of fiber in the average American diet as a risk factor for weight gain and obesity.

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For more information about fresh pears and fiber, visit www.usapears.org.