The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized new standards for foods to be labeled as “healthy.” The requirements include limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, as well as a requirement that “healthy” foods contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the key food groups outlined in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
The new standards are the first major change to the standards since they were introduced 30 years ago and are intended to better align with the latest science on nutrition and help consumers make better food choices. The FDA estimates that most people in the US exceed dietary recommendations for saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, and are low in fruits and vegetables.
The final rule allows for the “healthy” label to be used voluntarily by food manufacturers, with foods that meet the new requirements able to start using the label early next year. Those that do not meet the standards have three years to conform. The FDA is also working on a symbol that can be placed on packages to help consumers more easily identify foods that are considered healthy and developing a plan for nutrition labeling that would go on the front of food packaging.
The updated definition of “healthy” will result in some foods that were previously allowed to carry the label no longer meeting the standards, such as white bread and heavily sweetened cereal and yogurt. However, nuts and seeds, salmon and olive oil, and some peanut butters and canned fruits and vegetables are among those that will now be eligible for the label.
The American Heart Association has praised the FDA’s efforts, saying that the update will give consumers more confidence in the “healthy” label and motivate food manufacturers to develop new, healthier products. However, the organization has also called for the FDA to move forward with a proposed rule for a front-of-pack nutrition labeling system to provide consumers with more information about the nutritional value of foods and beverages.
