FDA Revises Definition of ‘Healthy’ Food, Says Coffee is OK, but Cereals Are Not
Breakfast cereals, yoghurt and protein bars are no longer considered ‘healthy’, according to a new ruling.
The FDA updated its definition of “healthy” this week, requiring packaged foods to meet certain criteria.
For a food to be labeled ‘healthy’, it must contain a certain amount of nutrients, such as proteins and whole grains, and contain as few harmful ingredients as possible, such as sugar and saturated fat.
High-sugar cereals, protein bars and yogurts that were once labeled “healthy” no longer qualify.
Meanwhile, new ‘healthy’ foods will include olive oil, salmon, canned vegetables and even water and coffee for the first time.
FDA officials said the update, the first in 30 years, is aimed at preventing and reversing the U.S. epidemic of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.
However, critics have criticized the ruling on ‘excluding’ foods despite ‘clear and unequivocal scientific evidence’ that they can be part of a healthy diet.
The FDA has updated the requirements for a food to be labeled as “healthy.” While water and coffee are not considered ‘healthy’, yogurts, breads and cereals with high sugar content should no longer be labeled as such
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement, “It is critical to the nation’s future that food is a vehicle for well-being.
“Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating habits.”
The new rule will come into effect within two months and food manufacturers have until February 2028 to comply.
Work is underway on a new standardized label that labels food as ‘healthy’.
Under the new ruling, nutrient-dense foods encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, seafood, eggs, lentils and seeds — without added ingredients automatically qualify as “healthy,” the FDA said. .
It’s in stark contrast to the last update to the rule in the 1990s, which aimed to restrict all types of fats.
These include omega-3 fatty acids, which have since been shown to reduce harmful inflammation linked to heart disease, cancer and dementia.
As a result, foods like salmon and olive oil were not considered ‘healthy’, while now they are.
There are no specific portion sizes listed in the new rules.
‘Healthy’ foods must also contain at least 10 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein or fiber.
Water, tea and coffee with less than five calories per serving also automatically qualify.
Meanwhile, yoghurt, breakfast cereals, white bread, fruit snacks, snack bars and high-sugar fruit punch no longer qualify as ‘healthy’ under the new rules.
The FDA said the goal is that the new labels will help consumers choose more balanced foods to reduce the number of chronic diseases.
According to the agency, three in four Americans don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables and dairy products, so they think the update will lead to consumers getting more of these into their diets.
And recent research has found that nearly 75 percent of foods in the U.S. food supply are considered ultra-processed.
These foods are consistently packed with additives like saturated fat and added sugars, which the FDA says up to nine in 10 Americans consume too much of.
Under a new FDA rule, foods must contain a certain amount of nutrients, such as protein and whole grains, and a limited amount of fat and sugars to be labeled “healthy” (stock image)
These ingredients have been consistently shown to increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease by raising blood sugar levels and hardening the arteries.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said that while the move is a step in the right direction, it may not have a major impact.
She told me NPR: ‘While the updated ‘healthy’ claim is an important update to food labelling, it is voluntary and may only appear on a small number of food and drink packaging.’
Critics have also raised concerns that these new “healthy” foods are more expensive than the foods that are no longer “healthy,” making them less accessible to lower-income families.
Sarah Gallo of the Consumer Brands Association criticized the new rule for excluding “some packaged foods, despite countless years of industry innovation to provide healthier options.”
She added that the new rule is “not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence.”