Tag Archives: healthy labeling

I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, recall
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FDA updates nutritional requirements a food must meet to use the claim “healthy” on the package

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, recall

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today it has updated the nutritional requirements a food must meet to use the claim “healthy” on the package, which includes criteria a food must meet to use the “healthy” claim on the package. The FDA also is exploring the development of a symbol to represent the claim “healthy” to make it easier to spot foods that can be the foundation of healthy eating patterns.

Updating the “Healthy” Definition on Food Packaging

The last time “healthy” was defined on packaging was in the 1990s. Based on the nutrition science and federal dietary guidelines at that time, the definition was solely focused on individual nutrients; for example, it included limits for saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol, and sodium and required a certain amount of beneficial nutrients like certain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein.

With a greater understanding of dietary patterns and their effects on health, and FDA recognizes that foods are made up of a variety of nutrients that work together as part of a healthy dietary pattern.

To be consistent with the latest nutrition science and federal dietary guidelines the updated definition of “healthy” requires that:

  • A food must contain a certain amount of a food group like fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, or dairy.
  • A food can’t contain too much saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars.

How the “Healthy” Claim Works

Placing a “healthy” claim on a food package is voluntary. If manufacturers choose to do it, their products must have the nutrient content required by the “healthy” definition. Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim can use the new criteria starting on February 25, 2025.

Here are some examples of what qualifies to use the “healthy” claim under the updated definition:

  • Nuts and seeds, olive oils, higher-fat fish, like salmon, and eggs would qualify as healthy because of their nutrient profile. They didn’t qualify under the previous definition.
  • Water. While water isn’t part of a food group, it is considered an optimal beverage by the Dietary Guidelines.

Here are some examples of what no longer qualifies to use the “healthy” claim under the updated definition:

  • Fortified white bread, highly sweetened yogurt, highly sweetened cereal.

For more details, see Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling.

FDA logo

FDA Announces Upcoming Webinars on Food Safety Culture and “Healthy” Food Labeling

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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FDA logo

The FDA has announced two upcoming webinars for food manufacturers and industry stakeholders. On Friday, October 21, 2022, at 1:00 pm ET, the FDA will provide an overview of its proposed rule to update the definition of “healthy” nutrient content claims for food products. The “healthy” claim acts as a quick signal on food package labels to identify foods that will help consumers build healthy eating patterns.

The FDA has proposed changes to the definition of “healthy” to align with current nutrition science, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 and the updated Nutrition Facts label. The guidance also includes the agency’s intent to exercise enforcement discretion with respect to the implied nutrient content claim “healthy” for foods that have a fat profile of predominantly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, but do not meet the regulatory definition of “low fat,” and on foods that contain at least 10% of the daily value (DV) per reference amount customarily consumed of potassium or vitamin D.

Speakers include:

  • Janesia Robbs, Communications and Public Engagement Staff, FDA CFSAN
  • Dr. Claudine Kavanaugh, Director, Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling (ONFL), FDA CFSAN
  • Dr. Sarah Gebauer, Nutritionist, Nutrition Science Review Branch, ONFL, FDA CFSAN
  • Vincent DeJesus, Nutritionist, Nutrition Assessment & Evaluation Branch, ONFL, FDA CFSAN

Registration is required. Register here.

On Wednesday, October 26, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET, the FDA and Stop Foodborne Illness, a nonprofit public health organization, will be host their fifth collaborative webinar, titled “Rewards and Recognition Programs.” Guest speakers will share their experiences in establishing rewards programs that drive positive food safety culture. Speakers include:

  • Shawn Fear, Director of Quality, Conagra Brands
  • Danielle Richardson, Director of Food Safety, Conagra Brands
  • Lone Jespersen, Principal and Founder, Cultivate, SA
  • Donald Prater, Associate Commissioner for Imported Food Safety, FDA
  • Conrad Choiniere, PhD, Director of the Office of Analytics and Outreach, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
  • Vanessa Coffman, Director, Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, Stop Foodborne Illness

Those who would like to attend the webinar can register here.