FDA updates what can be labeled a ‘healthy’ food

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday issued a final rule to update which foods can bill themselves as “healthy.” 

The move will help consumers identify foods that are particularly useful as the foundation of a diet consistent with dietary recommendations, the agency said.

Manufacturers can voluntarily use the claim on a food package if the product meets the updated criteria. Manufacturers who choose the “healthy” claim have three years to conform but can use the new criteria sooner, according to the FDA.

To be labeled as “healthy,” a food product must contain a certain amount of nutrients from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free dairy, and low-fat dairy) recommended by the FDA’s Dietary Guidelines. It must also adhere to specified limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.

Under the updated guidelines, some new foods, such as eggs, can now be billed as “healthy.”

"This news makes eggs a clear healthy choice, vindicating them from outdated science," said Jen Houchins, director of nutrition research for the American Egg Board's Egg Nutrition Center, in a press release. "The FDA announcement reaffirms the egg's role in supporting the health of American families, with nutritional benefits for everyone. Eggs offer a good source of high-quality protein and contribute nutrients to the diet that Americans don't get enough of, like vitamin D and choline."

The FDA is continuing to explore the development of a symbol that manufacturers could use on food labeling to show a product meets the “healthy” claim. A standardized graphic would further support the FDA’s goal of helping consumers identify food products that the FDA deems “healthy.”

Instacart applauded the move, stating it aligns with Instacart Health’s mission to help shoppers with “clear, actionable information about their food.”

Instacart said it is working with the FDA to ensure nutrition guidelines are “shoppable,” meaning consumers can easily see which grocery items fit the new healthy guidelines and shop accordingly.