The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the definition of “healthy” for the first time in thirty years. The move is designed to “help consumers find foods that are the foundation of a healthy dietary pattern and could also result in the development of healthier foods,” a press release says.
FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. said in a statement, “It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness. 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 be considered “healthy,” 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,” the release explains.
These foods 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.”
A label for the updated “healthy” foods is forthcoming, the FDA said.
“Together, the FDA’s work to update the ‘healthy’ claim, develop a ‘healthy’ symbol and front-of-package nutrition labeling, and help reduce sodium in foods plays an important role in a government-wide approach to improving nutrition and reducing diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S,” the agency noted.
The initiative is part of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
