Which Foods Are Actually 'Healthy'? The FDA Will Now Tell You
The government agency is tightening its standards for "healthy" claims. And for the first time in 30 years, its labeling rules will be updated to reflect new nutrition standards.
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"Healthy" is a pretty nebulous term, but you see it on food packaging all the time without batting an eye. Now, however, in an effort to help consumers make more informed decisions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is putting guardrails around how and when food companies can use the term.
"Today’s action is part of the FDA’s broader commitment to make food a vehicle for health and wellness, reduce diet-related chronic diseases, and promote health equity," the government agency said of the project, which officially kicked off in 2021. "This initiative, and others such as front-of-package nutrition labeling and sodium reduction, are featured in the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and HealthExternal Link Disclaimer."
Here's what you need to know about the changes.
What's changing?
In December, the FDA issued its final rule update on the “healthy” nutrient content claim to "help consumers identify foods that are particularly useful as the foundation of a diet that is consistent with dietary recommendations."
Foods that do not meet the agency's new criteria — which imposes limits on added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium — cannot legally use the term "healthy" on their packaging. The new "healthy" labeling goes into effect on February 25, 2025, and the manufacturer's compliance date is February 25, 2028.
Related: California Just Became the First State to Ban Sell-By Dates
What does the "healthy" claim mean now?
The FDA says companies must adhere to the following guidelines to keep the word "healthy" on the packaging of their food products:
To qualify as "healthy," food products must contain a certain amount of food from "at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy, etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines." Products must also adhere to specified limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
For example, the FDA previously stated that yogurt high in added sugars, fortified cereals high in sugar, fortified white bread, fruit snacks, snack bars, and fortified fruit punch all qualified as "healthy" — but that will no longer be the case. (The rule is a whopping 318 pages long. You can read it in its entirety here.)
Courtesy of the FDA
Why now?
The FDA hopes to help everyone develop healthier eating habits to reduce the risk of everything from Type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease. "Providing informative and accessible food labeling empowers consumers and may help foster a healthier food supply for all if some manufacturers voluntarily reformulate food products to meet the updated criteria."
The agency noted that "diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S. are the leading causes of death and disability." The FDA explained that the move will help call attention to products like nuts and seeds, higher-fat fish like salmon, certain oils, coffee, tea, and water, which previously did not qualify for the "healthy" label but are "foundational to a healthy eating pattern and recommended by the Dietary Guidelines." The agency noted that these foods now qualify, along with other foods across a range of budgets, like peanut butter, canned fruits, and vegetables.
Is it mandatory for food companies to use the "healthy" claim on packaging?
Companies are not required to use the "healthy" claim. However, as the FDA noted, "Manufacturers can voluntarily use the claim on a food package if the product meets the updated criteria." So, if the food product meets the guidelines, companies can decide to use it if they wish.
However, the FDA seemed to hope that brands with products that fit the guidelines would use the "healthy" claim, as "the claim could be especially helpful for those who may be less familiar with nutritional information." According to the FDA, manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to conform to the new rules.
Are there any critics of this new ruling?
As you could have probably guessed, packaged food companies aren't exactly on board.
“We remain concerned that this government regulation is not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence or an in-depth economic analysis that considers all the potential impacts to consumers and the market,” Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, shared in a statement provided to reporters. The group added, “We do not believe that FDA sufficiently market-tested its proposed regulatory framework to determine how it would work in practice."
Other experts are also concerned this new label may still confuse customers or lull them into complacency, rather than teaching them how to read nutrition labels.
"Dietary needs are specific to each individual," Fran Fleming-Milici, director of marketing initiatives at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, told NBC. "A 'healthy' claim on a package may actually prevent consumers from looking further into the nutritional content and other ingredients that may not be right for them." (If you're looking for more information on how to read a nutrition label, you can find it here.)
What's next?
The FDA said it's also continuing to work on a symbol to go along with the "healthy" claim on packaging that consumers could easily recognize. This, it says, would "further support the FDA’s goal of helping consumers identify food products that can be the foundation of healthy eating patterns."
However, there is one major caveat. As the New York Times reported, the incoming Trump administration could repeal, suspend, or delay the new rule. Varu Chilakamarri, a partner with the law firm K&L Gates, explained to The Times that Congress has the right to pass a disapproval resolution to eliminate the rule within 60 days of its publication.
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