The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new rule will update the definition of “healthy food” for the very first time in over 30 years. This is a step that aligns with current nutrition science and helps consumers to better understand food labels.
The agency stated that the “healthy” claim can “empower consumers” by helping them identify a nutritional diet that is in line with dietary guidelines.
It’s crucial for the future health of our nation that food is a vehicle to wellness. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf stated that improving access to nutrition data is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake in order to help people develop healthy eating habits.
According to the final rule “healthy foods” must include a certain quantity of food from one or more of the main groups, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The food must now adhere to specific limits of saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars.
Nuts, seeds, olive oil, salmon, and other fish with higher fat content, and even water were foods that previously did not qualify as “healthy”, but now do.
This change will stop foods like sugary cereals and yogurts sweetened with added sugar, white bread, and some granola bars, from being labeled “healthy.”
The FDA stated that the program was voluntary and companies are not required to use a standard label.
Companies can’t call foods “healthy” until they meet these new criteria. The deadline for compliance is 2028.
Jim Jones, FDA’s food commissioner, said that “food labeling is a powerful tool to change.” Food labeling can help to foster a healthier supply of food if manufacturers reformulate their products according to the new definition.
FDA says that chronic diseases caused by diet are the main cause of death and disability in the U.S., contributing to the fact that America has the lowest life expectancy rate among high-income, large countries.
Jones informed reporters at a press briefing that the FDA routinely conducts surveillance of the food supplies, and will take action against companies who do not comply with the new criteria when the rule becomes effective.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of the food industry, accusing it of poisoning children through highly processed foods. Kennedy will likely make regulation of the food industry a priority if he is confirmed as part of his Make America Healthy Again program.
Jones stated that Kennedy’s comments “seem to be very aligned” with the nutritional priorities of the agency, such as efforts to reduce sodium and the new “healthy eating” guidelines.
He said that it was premature to predict how these activities would align with the goals of the new leadership until they gave us their new policies.
