FEATURED ISSUE
FDA proposed changes to definition of “healthy”
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed updated criteria for when foods can be labeled “healthy” on their packaging. The proposed “healthy” label changes would primarily involve requiring at least a minimum amount of one of several food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, protein, or certain oils) while also reducing allowed limits of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.

Industry comments in response to these proposed changes to food product labels are supportive of the key changes noted above, but add that this does not go far enough and that the public response will most likely not be significant. They anticipate that consumers’ reactions will depend on how motivated they are to make the effort to purchase healthier products, have time to read the labels to figure out which is the healthier product, and have the funds for higher priced healthier products. It may be that the most impact will be if food manufacturers end up offering healthier products.

At least you are now aware of the possibility of revised meanings for the “healthy” educational designation on your food product labels in the future.

Issue: Do you care about definitions for “healthy” food product labels?

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position on issues and views knowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s issue, we are providing you with the extensive FDA information on their proposed food label changes and how they would be implemented. Also we are including a sampling of industry comments on the proposed changes specifically, plus other related matters. Note that we are currently in a Federal Register government comment collection period through 12/28/22 for those who want a say in the new definition.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has posted a series of articles related to their proposed updates to the revised definition for a “healthy” claim on food labels in the United States and how those changes would be implemented:

(1) FDA Proposes to Update Definition for “Healthy” Claim on Food Labels (9/28/22)

(2) A Fresh Take on What “Healthy” Means on Food Packages (9/28/22)

(3) FDA’s Nutrition Initiatives (9/28/22)

(4) Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term “Healthy” (9/29/22)
A Proposed Rule by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

(5) FDA Proposes Updated Definition of ‘Healthy’ Claim on Food Packages to Help Improve Diet, Reduce Chronic Disease (10/4/22)

(6) Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling (10/7/22)

Sampling of industry articles with reactions to proposed changes:

(1) How Do You Define Healthy Food? (10/5/22)
by Jane Caldwell, PhD
American Council on Science and Health

(2) FDA’s ‘Healthy’ Failure (10/4/22)
Alliance for Natural Health USA

(3) What Makes a Food ‘Healthy’? Here’s How the FDA Wants to Change the Definition (10/3/22)
by Julia Ries
health.com

(4) FDA wants new definition of ‘healthy’ food (9/30/22)
by Foster Meyerson
DC News Now

The Federal Register has posted an opportunity for comments to be posted through 12/28/22
Click here to access

You are also encouraged to go to our blog at https://ahha.org/blog and post your comments.

To review past ISSUES, visit the Special Updates Archives.