Did you know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t changed its rules about foods that can be declared “healthy” on package labels since 1994? It means that the current regulatory definition of what constitutes a food does not reflect nearly 30 years of advances in health and nutrition science. But the FDA’s “health” standards appear to be undergoing a long-awaited change.
The agency recently announced a plan proposing to “update the definition of the implied nutrient content claim of ‘healthy’ to be consistent with current nutritional science and federal dietary guidance.” As per the updated Nutrition Facts table.
This new classification aims to focus more on the value of eating specific food groups, rather than trying to get individual nutrients.Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, Registered Dietitian and NOW Wellness Specialist The family is thrilled with this approach.
“this is wonderful Move forward,” says Blatner. “The new definition focuses on actual food groups, which is what health care professionals are telling people to focus on for overall health. is not from individual nutrient intake, [from] It’s about eating food groups that have different nutrients working together. ”
Under the proposed rule, to qualify for the “healthy” label, a food must meet the following criteria, Blatner explains.
1. Must contain significant amounts of foods from at least one food group recommended by current dietary guidelines (vegetables, dairy, whole grains, etc.).
2. Must contain limited amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.
Blatner also adds that the new label will no longer consider total fat and will include added sugar. “[This] “This is a big change because we’ve learned that eating the right kind of fat is more important than eating low-fat,” she says. It is important to limit the added sugar, as it exceeds the recommended value for
Related: How to start eating more anti-inflammatory foods and why it’s so important
What is behind the proposed changes?
the point is No Make grocery shopping and eating more complicated. Rather, the goal is to educate and empower consumers. That means making it easier to recognize and choose nutritious, wholesome foods that ultimately contribute to a longer, healthier life.
“The proposed rule is part of the agency’s ongoing effort to help consumers improve their nutrition and eating patterns to reduce the burden of chronic disease and improve health equity.” The FDA press release reads, “Adopting the updated definition will result in a healthier food supply if some manufacturers reconfigure or develop products that meet the updated definition. ”
The FDA is also working on creating a new “healthy” symbol to appear on food. It also aims to help consumers easily identify smart, nutritious choices.
Related: 3 Important Macronutrients to Eat Every Day (And How They Differ From Micronutrients)
So which foods are healthier, according to the FDA?
The good news is that the FDA is trying to catch up here. As such, it does not challenge our basic understanding of a healthy, balanced diet. Nor am I promoting a fad diet or a new list of trendy, expensive, and difficult-to-pronounce superfoods.
In fact, it just confirms much of what we know with a visual stamp of approval. You will be able to meet the regulatory definitions created and literally use “healthy” claims on your packaging.
“Under the proposed definition, raw, whole fruits and vegetables automatically qualify for the ‘healthy’ claim due to their nutritional profile and positive contribution to an overall healthy diet.” ,” explains the FDA.
Foods often recommended make the cut, including nuts, seeds, eggs, fatty fish (such as salmon, anchovies, and albacore tuna), olive oil, low-sugar yogurt, and even bottled water. This was also established in 1994!) states that foods such as avocados, fatty fish and certain oils are technically No It’s eligible to claim a “healthy” label — something the proposed rule would fix. Conversely, foods that currently qualify for “healthy” claims – white bread, sugar-filled breakfast cereals and yogurt – will be disqualified.
“New Proposed Definition [would] Reinforces the solid nutrition advice we already provide. [That] Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry (with little or no added sugar, saturated fat, sodium). when cooked without) is a nutrient. “Dense foods that help us stay healthy,” Blatner says.
Related: The Top Superfoods to Stock Up on, According to Registered Dietitians
