The FDA proposed updated criteria for when foods can be called “healthy” on product packaging, Wednesday. These changes would align the definition of the “healthy” claim with nutrition science, the updated Nutrition Facts label, and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
To use the “healthy” claim on food packaging, the product would need to:
• Contain a certain meaningful amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (e.g., fruit, vegetable, dairy, etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines.
• Adhere to specific limits for certain nutrients, such as saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
“Nutrition is key to improving our nation's health,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement. “Healthy food can lower our risk for chronic disease. But too many people may not know what constitutes healthy food. FDA's move will help educate more Americans to improve health outcomes, tackle health disparities and save lives.”
Under the proposed guidelines for an updated “healthy” claim, more foods that are part of a healthy dietary pattern and recommended by the Dietary Guidelines would be able to include the claim on their labeling, including nuts and seeds, higher fat fish (such as salmon), certain oils, and water.
“Diet-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. and disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority groups,” said FDA commissioner Robert M. Califf, in a statement. “Today's action is an important step toward accomplishing a number of nutrition-related priorities, which include empowering consumers with information to choose healthier diets and establishing healthy eating habits early. It can also result in a healthier food supply.”
In addition to empowering consumers, adopting the updated definition may help foster a healthier food supply if some manufacturers reformulate or develop products to align with the updated definition.
The proposed rule comes on the heels of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and its related national strategy, which seeks to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, reduce diet-related diseases, and close disparity gaps by 2030.
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