Cereal, yogurt, and protein bars are no longer considered ‘healthy,’ according to a new ruling.
The FDA this week updated its definition of ‘healthy,’ requiring that packaged foods meet certain criteria.
For a food to use the ‘healthy’ label, it must have a certain amount of nutrients, like protein and whole grains, and contain miniumal harmful ingredients like sugar and saturated fat.
High-sugar cereals, protein bars, and yogurts once labeled ‘healthy’ no longer will qualify.
Meanwhile, new ‘healthy’ foods will include olive oil, salmon, canned vegetables, and even water and coffee, for the first time.
FDA officials said the update, the first in 30 years, is meant to prevent and reverse America’s epidemic of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Critics, however, slammed the ruling for ‘excluding’ foods despite ‘clear and unambiguous scientific evidence’ that they can be part of a healthy diet.
The FDA has updated its requirements for a food to be labelled ‘healthy.’ While water and coffee are not considered ‘healthy,’ high-sugar yogurts, breads, and cereals will no longer be allowed to be labelled as such
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FDA Commissioner Dr Robert Califf said in a statement: ‘It’s critical for the future of the country that food be a vehicle for wellness.
‘Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.’
The new rule will take effect within two months, and food manufacturers will have until February 2028 to comply.
A new standardized label that designates food as ‘healthy’ is being developed.
Under the new ruling, nutrient-dense foods encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, seafood, eggs, lentils, and seeds – with no added ingredients automatically qualify as ‘healthy,’ the FDA said.
It’s a stark contrast from the last update to the rule in the 1990s, which aimed to limit all types of fats.
These included omega-3 fatty acids, which have since been found to reduce harmful inflammation linked to heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
As a result, foods like salmon and olive oil were not considered ‘healthy,’ though they are now.
There are no specific serving sizes listed in the new rules.
‘Healthy’ foods must also contain at least 10 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein, or fiber.
Water, tea, and coffee under five calories per serving will also qualify automatically.
Meanwhile, yogurt, cereal, white bread, fruit snacks, snack bars, and fruit punch that are high in sugars no longer qualify as ‘healthy’ under the new rules.
The FDA said its goal is that the new labels will help consumers pick more balanced foods to reduce rates of chronic diseases.
According to the agency, three in four Americans don’t eat enough vegetables, fruits, and dairy, so they believe the update will lead consumers to get more of these in their diets.
And recent research has found nearly 75 percent of foods in the US food supply are considered ultra-processed.
These foods are consistently packed with additives like saturated fat and added sugar, which up to nine in 10 Americans consume too much of, according to the FDA.
Under a new FDA rule, foods must have a certain amount of nutrients like protein and whole grains and a limited amount of fat and sugars to be labelled ‘healthy’ (stock image)
These ingredients have consistently been shown to increase the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease by raising blood sugar and hardening arteries.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said while the move is a step in the right direction, it may not have a wide impact.
She told NPR: ‘Although the updated “healthy” claim is an important update to food labeling, it is voluntary and may only appear on a small number of food and beverage packages.’
Critics have also cited concerns about these new ‘healthy’ foods being more expensive than those that are no longer ‘healthy,’ making them less accessible for lower income families.
Sarah Gallo of Consumer Brands Association criticized the new rule for excluding ‘some packaged foods, despite countless years of industry innovation to provider healthier options.’
She added that the new rule ‘is not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence.’
