The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its definition of “healthy” food for the first time in 30 years, striking items like white bread from the list while welcoming nutrient-rich options such as eggs and salmon. The move comes amid a growing domestic crisis of preventable diet-related chronic diseases.
Experts warn that diet-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are major contributors to America’s low life expectancy among high-income countries. Alarming statistics show that 77% of Americans exceed recommended saturated fat intake, while 63% surpass added sugar limits. Nearly 80% fall short on dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
The new rules require foods labeled “healthy” to contain a meaningful amount of essential food groups like vegetables, proteins, dairy, or grains. They must also stay within specific limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. The FDA has introduced a new symbol to help manufacturers signal that their products meet the “healthy” criteria.
The updated definition includes foods with healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, high-fat fish, eggs, and olive oil, while excluding sugary snacks and fortified cereals that were previously labeled as healthy. The FDA aims to provide more complete and accurate nutrition information on food labels to empower consumers to make informed choices.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the health department has expressed interest in promoting healthy food and eating habits, suggesting that this issue may remain a focus under the new administration.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/fda-rewrites-rules-of-healthy-foods-for-first-time-in-30-years