FDA Creates New Definition Of "Healthy"

Find out which foods can now be labeled "healthy" on the packaging.

From "natural" to "artisanal," the culinary world has a history of quick, meaningless buzzwords at the end. But the FDA recently decided to change all that by updating the criteria for when foods can claim "healthy" nutrients.

This is not a brand new one, as the bartenders at KIND know all too well. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration sent out a nine-page warning letter saying that bars overuse the term, suggesting that "healthy" foods contain one gram or less of saturated fat per serving. FDA Listed KIND Bars really broke that rule...because they were full of nuts and coconut. Since we all know that these types of fat sources are actually good for us, this was an important point.

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With this update, these inheritance issues should no longer be present. According to a recent news release from the agency, the new rule is more closely aligned with the definition of "health" backed by the latest nutritional science and better considers how nutrients work in synergy to improve health rather than in isolation. In addition, the recommendations now support a new National Strategy to End Hunger and Improve American Nutrition.

So what does this actually mean?

Namely, some foods that are high in fat, such as nuts, seeds, fatty fish and some oils, can now carry the term "healthy" on the packaging, while foods high in sodium, saturated fat and sugar cannot.

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Lisa Richards, dietitian and founder of the Candida Diet, applauds the efforts. "It is time for politicians to think seriously about how our diet affects the chronic diseases that Americans suffer," she says. "Especially as the food industry and marketing make vague health claims."

Dr. Robert Brown, MD, agrees. "This is an important step toward improving public health," he says. "So far, retailers can put a 'healthy' label on anything." Noting that there are some important ingredients that the label does not regulate, which are chemical additives, the parameters for Richards are "specific and strict in important areas".

Dr. Richards also shared that, “This label appears to be relatively useful to consumers when choosing a product. Unlike other terms such as 'whole grain' or 'organic', this label will have stricter standards to follow. Although it is important to keep reading Labels and ingredients, foods labeled “healthy” and actually relatively healthy should make shopping for healthy food much easier and less stressful.”

Label recommendations will not only enable consumers to make healthier choices. According to the press release, it is hoped that this designation will also help manufacturers reformulate their products to meet the new definition, which Brown reiterates as a possibility.

"It may take some time, but I think retailers will eventually create products that can be categorized as healthy because there is definitely a market for these products," Brown explains. The symbol may appear on the packaging for the convenience of consumers - we will definitely monitor it.

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