FDA Finalizes New Rules for Labeling “Healthy” Foods

Foods that wish to be labeled as “healthy” must soon meet new federal requirements, including limits on saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule (PDF) on December 19 that updates the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy.” The agency indicates the new requirements will bring labels more in line with current nutrition science.

U.S. Dietary Concerns

The FDA warns there is a crisis in the U.S. of preventable diet-related chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Updating the term “healthy” on food packaging can help consumers make better decisions about what they eat and possibly prevent some chronic diseases, according to an FDA press release announcing the changes.

Diet-related health problems like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of disability and disease in the United States, which has the lowest life expectancy among high-income countries. Many believe this is due to the poor quality of food in the country.

More than 75% of Americans exceed the current dietary recommendation for saturated fat and nearly 80% of people have a diet low in fruit and vegetables. Moreover, 63% of Americans exceed daily intake for recommended amounts of added sugar and more than 90% of people exceed the daily recommended limits for sodium.

Federal officials say the new rule will make sure consumers have access to more complex and accurate nutritional information on food labels. It may also help promote the development of healthier foods and reduce the use of food preservatives.

The new “healthy” determination will call for food that qualifies as healthy to contain specific limits on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. It also calls for food to contain at least one fruit, vegetable, protein, dairy or grain to hold the “healthy” title.

Agency officials say the rule is meant to empower consumers and help them identify foods that are healthier to eat when shopping, including foods containing nuts, seeds, fatty fish like salmon, olive oil and water.

For example, a 50-gram serving of dairy must contain less than 5% of a person’s daily sugar level and 10% of a person’s daily salt and saturated fat to be labeled as “healthy.” It would also bar products like white bread, which are high in sugar and sodium, from using the “healthy” label.

While manufacturers are not required to meet the guidelines for healthy foods, they also cannot label their foods as “healthy” unless the foods follow the guidelines.

“It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness. Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said in the press release. “It is vital that we focus on the key drivers to combat chronic disease, like healthy eating. Now, people will be able to look for the ‘healthy’ claim to help them find foundational, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.”

The FDA has set a date of February 25, 2028, for food labels to come into compliance with the new labeling requirements.