The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced new guidelines that will redefine which foods can be labeled as “healthy.”
This shift aims to provide clearer information for consumers, especially those who have struggled to navigate food labels.
In the past, the term “healthy” was often used on products that were highly processed or fortified with nutrients, such as white bread or sugary fruit juices. Under the new rules, these products will no longer meet the “healthy” criteria, reported NBC News.
Instead, the FDA will focus on beneficial ingredients like whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains while limiting added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats. This new standard is designed to give consumers more accurate information about the nutritional quality of the food they purchase.
The FDA’s new rules place emphasis on natural, nutrient-dense foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, which will now be explicitly categorized as “healthy.”
Whole grains, dairy, eggs, seafood, nuts, seeds, beans, and lean meats will also qualify as healthy options under these new guidelines as long as they do not contain excessive added sugars, sodium, or saturated fats. Even frozen and canned versions of fruits and vegetables are included in this updated category as long as they retain nutritional value.
This change is part of a larger effort to assist consumers who find it difficult to compare products in the grocery store, especially when the current nutrition labels don’t clearly indicate which options are truly beneficial to health.
Nutrition experts have welcomed this approach, praising the FDA for prioritizing healthy ingredients rather than penalizing foods that contain certain components, such as fats, that are essential for overall well-being. For example, foods with heart-healthy fats, such as avocados, will no longer be excluded from the “healthy” category, as they were under the previous guidelines.
This change is seen as a significant step forward in promoting better dietary choices for consumers.
The old “healthy” label guidelines, set in 1994, had allowed products to qualify if they contained certain amounts of vitamins, minerals, protein, or fiber, even if they also contained high levels of unhealthy ingredients. For example, fruit juice could be labeled as healthy if it had enough vitamin C despite being loaded with sugar. This loophole often resulted in highly processed, sugary foods being marketed as healthy options.
The new rules eliminate this loophole, ensuring only products with genuinely healthy ingredients carry the “healthy” label. This change aims to prevent companies from fortifying junk food and misleading consumers into believing these products are nutritious.
While the rule is set to take effect gradually, with companies given until 2028 to comply, it represents a significant shift in how food is marketed to the American public.
Despite the long timeline for full implementation, the FDA’s move will likely have a far-reaching impact on food companies and their marketing strategies. Food manufacturers will need to reformulate their products to meet the new guidelines if they wish to retain the “healthy” label.