he FDA announced on December 19, 2024, a final rule to update the “healthy” claim that manufacturers can voluntarily use on food packages. The updated claim is consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance.

Updated “Healthy” Claim

Claims like “healthy” on food labels can help consumers identify healthier food choices at a quick glance.

Foods must meet specific criteria to use the “healthy” nutrient content claim. The updated criteria for the claim replace outdated criteria for “healthy” with criteria that are consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance. For example, current U.S. dietary guidelines include a focus on the importance of healthy dietary patterns and the food groups that comprise them, the type of fat in the diet rather than the total amount of fat consumed, and the amount of sodium and added sugars in the diet. The updated criteria identify foods that help consumers build a healthy eating pattern. 

To meet the updated criteria for the claim, a food product needs to  contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruit, vegetables, grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy and protein foods) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and  meet specific limits for added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. 

The criteria for how much food from a particular food group is required (called food group equivalents) and the specific limits for the three individual nutrients vary for individual food products, mixed products (which contain certain amounts of more than one food group), main dishes and meals, and are based on a Reference Amount Customarily Consumed, which is the basis for determining a serving size.

Products that Will Now Qualify for “Healthy” under the Final Rule Under the updated ”healthy” claim, nutrient-dense foods that are encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines – vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy, lean game meat, seafood, eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds – with no added ingredients except for water, automatically qualify for the “healthy” claim because of their nutrient profile and positive contribution to an overall healthy diet.  Under the updated claim, foods such as water, avocados, nuts and seeds, higher fat fish, such as salmon, and olive oil will now qualify to use the “healthy” claim. These include many varieties of these foods that fit into a range of budgets, for example, fruits, vegetables, and fish that are either fresh, frozen, or canned. Examples of products that qualified for “healthy” under the original claim that do not under the updated claim include fortified white bread, highly sweetened yogurt, and highly sweetened cereal.