SILVER SPRING, MD — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a final rule to update the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy.” With an ever-present crisis of diet-related, preventable chronic diseases in the US, the updated definition marks an important step in fulfilling the FDA’s nutrition priorities, which are part of an entire governmental approach.
The updated claim aids consumers in selecting foods that are the foundation of a healthy dietary pattern with the potential to lead to the development of healthier foods.
“It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness,” said Robert M. Califf, M.D., FDA commissioner. “Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns. It is vital that we focus on the key drivers to combat chronic disease, like healthy eating. Now, people will be able to look for the ‘healthy’ claim to help them find foundational, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.”
To qualify as “healthy” under the updated definition, food products must contain a certain amount of an item in one of the food groups or subgroups outlined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This includes fruits, vegetables, protein foods, dairy and grains. The product must also meet certain limits on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.
“Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.” — Robert M. Califf, M.D. | commissioner | FDA
The FDA is also developing a symbol that manufacturers can use to indicate their foods meet the criteria of the updated “healthy” definition. The symbol would be easily identifiable for consumers and be helpful for those who are less familiar with nutrition information to lay the foundation for healthy eating patterns.
The administration issued a draft guidance with new Phase II voluntary sodium reduction targets and has conducted consumer research to issue a proposed rule on front-of-package nutrition labeling on food products to help consumers quickly and easily identify how foods are part of a healthy diet.
For manufacturers, the benefit of carrying the FDA’s updated “healthy” claim allows products to be explicitly marketed as healthier options for consumers, which could lead to increased sales by appealing to health-conscious buyers while aligning their products with current nutritional science and dietary guidelines. Manufacturers whose products meet the new criteria can also differentiate from competitors who may not.
By using the updated “healthy” definition and ensuring their products meet the new criteria, food manufacturers can enhance consumer trust and amplify brand reputation.
