FDA Updates Definition Of 'healthy' For Food Labels

© Bru-nO / Pixabay More than 80% of Americans don't eat enough vegetables, fruits and dairy products, but according to the FDA they consume unhealthy amounts of added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and salt. Image from Bru-nO / Pixabay

Under current federal regulations, salmon cannot be considered a "healthy" food due to its high fat content.

But sugary grains can have a "healthy" label on their packaging if they meet certain requirements for individual nutrients, even if they contain added sugars.

These contradictions are at odds with modern nutritional science and common sense. So the US Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is updating the marketing term "healthy" to reflect what is known about healthy eating.

The new rule proposed by the FDA brings the definition of "healthy" claims more in line with current nutrition science.

"Nutrition is the key to improving the health of our nation," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. "Healthy eating habits can reduce the risk of chronic disease. However, many people do not know what a healthy diet is. [The] action of the FDA will help more Americans get an education to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities. of health and saving lives ".

According to the agency, more than 80 percent of Americans do not eat enough vegetables, fruits and dairy products, but consume unhealthy amounts of added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.

The FDA first called it "healthy" in 1994, but based its criteria for using the term only on the individual nutrients found in each individual food, the agency's new proposal says.

Since then, the science of nutrition has evolved. Today, nutritionists focus on the overall human food pattern, emphasizing the consumption of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The type of food also plays a role. Salmon is really fat, but these fats are now thought to be good for you, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as well as healthy omega-3 fatty acids that support heart and brain health.

Under the new rule, most foods that are part of a healthy diet and recommended by US federal dietary guidelines can be classified as "healthy," the FDA said in a statement.

These include nuts and seeds, oily fish such as salmon, and some vegetable oils.

For the word "healthy" to appear on the package, products must contain sufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains and lean proteins from one of the recommended food groups.

You should limit foods that aren't good for you, including saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.

For example, granola marketed as "healthy" should contain three quarters of whole grains and no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium, and 2.5 grams of added sugar per serving.

The FDA said the new definition aims both to enable consumers to eat better and to potentially promote a healthier food supply by encouraging manufacturers to include healthier foods such as vegetables or whole grains in their product lines.

The agency is also looking into a symbol that manufacturers can place on the front of their packaging to indicate that their products meet the new definition of "healthy."

Additional information

The US Food and Drug Administration has more information on food labels and nutrition advice for Americans.

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