The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new regulations regarding the labeling of packaged foods as “healthy.” These changes, finalized on Thursday, mark the first major update to the FDA’s definition of healthy foods in three decades. The revisions aim to help consumers better understand food labels while aligning with federal dietary guidelines, ultimately targeting a reduction in diet-related health issues.
According to the new regulations, products labeled as “healthy” must include a specified amount of ingredients from key food groups, which include fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and proteins. This update introduces restrictions on added sugars for the first time and sets limitations on sodium and saturated fat based on the category of the food product.
As a result of these guidelines, items like sugary breakfast cereals, overly sweetened yogurts, traditional white bread, and some granola bars will be prohibited from carrying the “healthy” label. Conversely, nutrient-rich options such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, eggs, and select trail mixes will qualify. Even water can now be considered healthy under the new rules.
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf emphasized the importance of food in promoting wellness in his statement, asserting that better access to nutritional information is vital for public health and can assist individuals in developing healthier eating habits.
The new regulations are set to be implemented within two months, with food manufacturers given until February 2028 to adhere to the requirements. Additionally, a new label designating foods as healthy is currently being developed by officials at the FDA. In previous assessments, approximately 15% of products qualified for the healthy label, with only 5% actually making the claim.
Originally proposed in 2022, this change has been hailed as a necessary and significant update to what many have deemed an outdated definition, according to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, who leads the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. He described the previous guidelines as being based on decades-old science and marked the new regulations as a step in the right direction.
The updated rules reflect advancements in dietary and nutritional research made over the past 30 years, addressing the discrepancies between former definitions and current dietary guidelines that serve as the foundation for federal health-related programs. However, the Consumer Brands Association, a trade group within the food industry, expressed concerns about the potential exclusion of some packaged goods due to these changes.
Sarah Gallo, a representative for the organization, expressed apprehension that the new rules may lack a basis in clear scientific evidence and may not adequately take into account the potential economic effects on consumers.
The FDA has noted that the updated criteria are rooted in data likely to enhance public health outcomes, particularly in relation to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Alarmingly, recent statistics show that over 75% of Americans do not consume sufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Furthermore, nearly 80% surpass the recommended limits for saturated fat intake, over 60% exceed guidelines for added sugars, and about 90% surpass sodium allowances, all of which are risk factors for chronic illnesses.
