FDA Redefines 'Healthy' Food Label Criteria After 30 Years

New guidelines focus on added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat, while emphasizing whole food groups to combat diet-related diseases.

The FDA's updated definition requires foods labeled as 'healthy' to include a certain amount of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, or protein while limiting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.
Previously excluded items like salmon, nuts, seeds, and olive oil now qualify as 'healthy,' while sugary cereals, sweetened yogurts, and white bread no longer meet the criteria.
The new rule aims to address diet-related chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, which are leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.
Food manufacturers have until February 2028 to comply with the voluntary guidelines, with the FDA also exploring a standardized 'healthy' symbol for packaging.
Critics from the food industry have raised concerns about economic impacts and scientific clarity, while health experts largely praise the move as aligning with modern nutritional science.