Updating constituents

December 19, 2024

The United States Food and Drug Administration today released a final rule update the “wholesome” nutritional content claim to help consumers identify foods that are particularly useful as the basis of a diet consistent with dietary recommendations. Manufacturers can voluntarily use the claim on food packaging if the product meets the updated criteria.

The “healthy” claim can empower consumers by providing a quick signal on food package labels to help them identify fundamental foods for establishing healthy eating habits. The claim could be particularly useful for those who are less familiar with nutritional information. Today’s action is part of a broader FDA commitment to make food a vehicle for health and well-being, reducing diet-related chronic diseases and promote health equity. This initiative and others, such as front-of-package nutrition labeling and sodium reduction, are featured in the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

In the United States, diet-related chronic diseases are leading causes of death and disability, and many of these chronic diseases are affected at higher rates by certain racial and ethnic minority groups and by those whose status socio-economic is lower, compared to the global average. Healthy eating habits, which include staple foods like fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, are associated with better health, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes type 2, certain types of cancer and being overweight or obese. Providing informative and accessible food labeling empowers consumers and can help support a healthier food supply for all if some manufacturers voluntarily reformulate their food products to meet the updated criteria.

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 reporting of added sugars. The updated criteria for the “healthy” claim include nutrients to limit and identify foods that help consumers establish a diet consistent with current recommendations.

To carry the “healthy” claim, a food product must:

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

For example, to include the “healthy” claim on packaging, a cereal must contain a certain amount of whole grains and meet limits for saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. Nuts and seeds, high-fat fish like salmon, certain oils, and water are examples of foods that previously did not qualify for the “healthy” claim, but are fundamental to a healthy diet. healthy eating pattern and recommended by dietary guidelines. These foods can now carry the “healthy” claim. Many foods that fit different budgets, such as certain peanut butters and canned fruits and vegetables, are also eligible.
Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to comply, but can use the new criteria sooner.

In a separate but related area, the FDA also continues to explore the development of a symbol that manufacturers could use on food labeling to show that a product meets the criteria for the “healthy” claim. Having a standardized graphic showing that a food meets the criteria for a “healthy” claim would further support the FDA’s goal of helping consumers identify food products that can form the basis of healthy eating habits.

FDA will host a webinar with stakeholders to provide an overview of the final rule and answer questions. More information about the webinar will be released soon.

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