More foods could carry the word “healthy” on the label under an FDA proposal announced on Wednesday, if they are part of a healthy dietary pattern and recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The agency said it was updating its criteria for the “healthy” label in hopes of improving the U.S. diet.
“The ‘healthy’ claim can act as a quick signal on food package labels to empower consumers,” said the FDA in a constituent update. “Diet-related chronic diseases in the United States are the leading cause of death and disability.”
The proposed rule would better account for how the nutrients in various food groups interact to create healthy eating patterns, said the FDA. Under the new definition, based on current nutrition science, nuts and seeds, higher-fat fish such as salmon, some oils, and water were among the additional foods that would qualify for the “healthy” claim.
To be labeled “healthy” under the FDA proposal, foods must contain a meaningful amount from one of the food groups or subgroups recommended by the Dietary Guidelines and comply with specific limits on nutrients such as saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars. The nutrient limits were based on the percentage of the daily value for the nutrient and vary depending on each group and subgroup.
A dairy trade group said the FDA had taken “some positive steps toward encouraging consumption of dairy products” but had unduly restricted the products eligible for the “healthy” label. Some flavored milk contains more added sugar than the FDA cutoff levels and cheese has more sodium, said the International Dairy Food Association.
Most Americans do not consume enough fruit, vegetables, and dairy but eat too much salt, saturated fats, and added sugars, said the FDA.
Text of the proposed FDA rule is available here.