The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public opinion on potential changes to its definition of "healthy." This would be the first time the agency has revised the definition since it was established in 1994. The FDA is asking for comments from the public on how to potentially alter the definition of "healthy" for use in food labeling.
The FDA's current definition of "healthy" is based on the presence or absence of nutrients. It states that a food can be labeled "healthy" if it is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and provides at least 10% of the recommended daily value of certain vitamins and minerals. It also lists foods that are naturally high in certain nutrients, such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
The proposed changes to the definition of "healthy" seek to incorporate more modern dietary advice, including the latest science on healthful eating patterns. The proposed changes would allow foods with certain beneficial nutrients, such as plant-based proteins, to be labeled "healthy" even if they contain higher amounts of fat, sodium, and cholesterol. The proposed changes would also allow foods that are high in certain beneficial nutrients, such as fiber, to be labeled "healthy," even if they contain more saturated fat.
The FDA is currently accepting public comments on the proposed changes to the definition of "healthy." The agency is looking for input on how to potentially update the definition to better reflect modern nutritional science and dietary advice. It is unclear when the agency may take a final vote on the issue.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public input on potential changes to its definition of "healthy" for use in food labeling. The current definition, established in 1994, is based on the presence or absence of nutrients. The proposed changes would incorporate more modern dietary advice and allow foods with beneficial nutrients to be labeled "healthy" even if they contain higher amounts of fat, sodium, and cholesterol. The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes and the FDA is currently accepting comments. It is unclear when the FDA may take a final vote on the issue.