US-FDA Updates ‘Healthy’ Claims, Providing a Refreshed Tool for U.S. Consumers

Food and Drug Administration announced on December 20 final rule to update the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy.” There is an ever-growing crisis of preventable, diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S. that requires immediate action. The updated “healthy” claim marks an important step in fulfilling the FDA’s nutrition priorities which are part of a whole-of-government approach to address this crisis. This rule will help ensure that consumers have access to more complete, accurate, and up-to-date nutrition information on food labels. 
To qualify as “healthy” under the updated definition, food products must contain a certain amount of a food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans including fruits, vegetables, protein foods, dairy, and grains. Foods that qualify for the “healthy” claim must also meet certain limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Under these changes, more foods that are key to healthy eating patterns will qualify for the “healthy” claim, which could make them easier for consumers to identify when shopping. These foods include nuts and seeds, higher fat fish such as salmon, olive oil, and water.