Let’s face it: here in the US, food companies have used the word Healthy on their packaging for years, regardless of whether the product inside is good for us.
The FDA has been putting some effort into helping consumers make better decisions when it comes to buying foods for ourselves and our families and has recently introduced a definition of which types of food can use the word Healthy on their food product packaging.
The new FDA ruling, introduced on December 19, 2024, only allows the word Healthy to be used on food products that meet specific criteria based on Federal dietary guidance and current nutrition science.
The agency seems to be stepping up its efforts to help consumers make better choices with their food purchases. A new rule that would mandate basic nutrition information to be printed on the front of packages was also recently proposed.
From the statistics the FDA has published, we certainly need help with better food choices, so this new rule is a step forward.
What are the criteria for making a healthy claim on food packaging?
This is from the FDA info:
To meet the updated criteria for the claim, a food product needs to:
- Contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruit, vegetables, grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy and protein foods) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Meet specific limits for added sugars, saturated fat and sodium.
~ US Food & Drug Administration
More Information
The FDA has complete information on this new rule on their website: FDA New Healthy Food.
