FDA's updated definition of 'healthy' marks important step forward

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a final definition for the nutrient content claim "healthy." Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association, which is celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service as the world's leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, issued the following statement:

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

"The new definition moves from an exclusive focus on individual nutrients to a system that also emphasizes the type of food and how it contributes to a healthy dietary pattern. This new approach will help ensure products considered 'healthy' include nutrient-dense foods that are recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and contain limited amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.

"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.

"Although the updated 'healthy' claim is an important update to food labeling, it is voluntary and may only appear on a limited number of food and beverage packages. That's why the FDA's work on front-of-pack nutrition labeling is so important.

"A mandatory front-of-pack labeling system based on the best available science and consumer research would give consumers valuable information about the nutritional value of all foods and beverages and help them quickly and easily identify healthier options.

"We urge the administration to build on today's announcement and move forward with a proposed rule for a front-of-pack nutrition labeling system."

Provided by American Heart Association