The federal regulations that allow manufacturers to label food products as “healthy” are changing, thanks to a new rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA says that to be labeled as “healthy,” food products must contain specific amounts of food from at least one of the groups or subgroups that are included in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Such foods include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein food
- Dairy
- Grains
Foods labeled as “healthy” under the new rule also must meet limits regarding saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.
The new rule is an update to the FDA’s original regulation first issued three decades ago. The Associated Press reports that the new rule marks the first time limits have been established on added sugars when determining which foods are “healthy.”
According to the AP:
“The change banishes foods such as sugary cereals, highly sweetened yogurts, white bread and some granola bars from bearing a ‘healthy’ label, while allowing foods such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, eggs and some trail mix to use it. Even water can now be labeled as healthy, the agency said.”
The FDA says the labeling change is intended to address “an ever-growing crisis of preventable, diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S. that requires immediate action.”
The AP reports that the new rule will take effect by February 2025, although food manufacturers will have until February 2028 to comply.
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