With most Americans eating too much saturated fat, salt, and added sugar, the Food and Drug Administration updated its regulations on Thursday for when food makers can say on their packages that their products are healthy. Consumer groups said the rule, the first update since 1994, was a significant improvement but that further steps are needed to make it easier to eat a nutritious diet.
“It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness,” said FDA commissioner Robert Califf. “Now people can look for the ‘healthy’ claim to help them find foundational, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.”
To qualify as healthy under the new rule, foods must contain ingredients from at least one of the food groups including fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, and grains They should not contain too much saturated fat, salt, or added sugars.
More foods that are key to nutritious eating will qualify for the “healthy” label under the new rule, said the FDA. They include nuts and seeds, salmon and other higher-fat fish, olive oil, and water. Peanut butter and canned fruits and vegetables will also qualify. Under the new rule, fortified white bread, highly sweetened yogurt, and highly sweetened cereal no longer qualify.
“The rule is a substantial improvement from the status quo,” said Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “But the need for labeling reform is far from over. We expect the ‘healthy’ rule will have a limited impact because it only applies to the few products bearing the voluntary ‘healthy’ label.” Greenthal said the FDA should issue a rule on mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling.
Some ultra-processed foods will still be able to use the “healthy” label, said the Environmental Working Group, although it called the updated rule “a long-overdue step forward.”
The International Dairy Foods Association said the “healthy” rule was so restrictive that “few foods, including many nutrient-dense dairy products, will be able to carry the claim. We recommend the FDA rethink their approach.”
The updated definition reflects current nutrition science and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, said the FDA.
Diet-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading causes of disability and disease in the United States, said the FDA. Americans have the shortest life expectancy among large, high-income countries. Eight of 10 Americans eat too little dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Americans also eat more than the recommended amounts of salt, added sugars, and saturated fat.
The FDA said it was working on a “healthy” label that food companies could use on their packages, as a cue to consumers.
To rule is scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on Dec. 27. Food companies can begin using the new criteria on Feb. 25, 2025, said the FDA.