The Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule Dec. 19 to update the “healthy” nutrient-content claim to help consumers identify foods that are particularly useful as the foundation of a diet that is consistent with dietary recommendations.

According to a constituent update from the FDA, manufacturers can voluntarily use the claim on a food package if the product meets the updated criteria.

The updated claim is designed to provide consumers with a quick, accessible signal on food packaging to identify foundational foods for healthy dietary patterns, according to the FDA, which also said it aligns with the FDA’s broader efforts to reduce diet-related chronic diseases, promote health equity and enhance public health, as outlined in the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

The FDA noted that diet-related chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S., disproportionately affecting certain racial and ethnic minority groups and individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Healthy eating patterns, incorporating foods such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy and whole grains, are linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers, the FDA said.

The updated criteria for the “healthy” claim are aligned with current nutrition science, the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” and the updated nutrition facts label, which requires the declaration of added sugars, according to the update. The FDA said updated criteria for the “healthy” claim include nutrients to limit and identifies foods that help consumers to build a diet consistent with current recommendations.

To bear the “healthy” claim, the FDA says a food product needs to:

• Contain a certain amount of food (food group equivalent) from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy etc.) recommended by the dietary guidelines.
• Adhere to specified limits for the following nutrients: saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.

As an example, the FDA said to include the “healthy” claim on the package, a cereal needs to contain a certain amount of whole grains and adhere to limits for saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. Nuts and seeds, higher-fat fish (such as salmon), certain oils and water are examples of foods that did not qualify for the “healthy” claim before but are foundational to a healthy eating pattern and recommended by the dietary guidelines, the FDA said. These foods now qualify to bear the “healthy” claim. Many foods that fit into a range of budgets, such as some peanut butters and canned fruits and vegetables, also qualify.

Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to conform but can use the new criteria sooner, the FDA said. The rule is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register on Dec. 27 and take effect 60 days later; its compliance date is Feb. 25, 2028.

The American Heart Association released a statement CEO Nancy Brown about the change.

“The American Heart Association is pleased the FDA has updated the requirements foods and beverages must meet to be labeled ‘healthy,’” Brown said. “Nearly three decades since the original designation was created, it was past time to update the requirements based on the latest nutrition science.

“The updated definition should give consumers more confidence when they see the ‘healthy’ claim while grocery shopping, and we hope it will motivate food manufacturers to develop new, healthier products that qualify to use the ’healthy’ claim,” she continued.

“Although the updated ‘healthy’ claim is an important update to food labeling, it is voluntary and may only appear on a small number of food and beverage packages. That’s why the FDA’s work on front-of-pack nutrition labeling is so important,” Brown added. “A front-of-pack labeling system based on the best available science and consumer research would give consumers valuable information about the nutritional value of foods and beverages and help them quickly and easily identify healthier options. We urge the administration to move forward with a proposed rule for a front-of-pack nutrition labeling system.”