In today’s environment, the term “healthy” is used in a variety of ways. We talk about how unhealthy we are as a society or that certain foods are healthy. We even use the term to describe a person’s appearance — “she looks healthy” — or for portion size — “that’s a healthy portion.” While there is a common understanding of the term in each of these examples, the true meaning may lie within one’s own experience or profession. Healthy, like many words, is often overused and misunderstood. But more clarity is on the way.
Background of the “Healthy” Food Claim
Since the 1990s, there has been regulations regarding the use of the word “healthy” as a claim on food packages. However, the criteria focused on individual nutrient levels rather than the nutrient content of the whole food and its contribution to our overall diet. For example, the original guideline for the term 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.1 While the definition may have sounded good, nutrient dense foods like nuts or salmon were eliminated from being labeled due to their natural fat content.
We’ve come a long way since the 1990s in understanding the total nutrient quality of food choices. The continued rise of chronic diseases along with our constant dismal intake of fruits and vegetables demonstrated a need to revisit the “healthy” claim. Even though the call by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for public comments and discussion began in 2016, the final guidelines were not released until mid-December 2024. The revised standard for this voluntary claim is effective as of Feb. 25. However, companies have a three-year grace period for their “healthy” claims to comply with the revised standard.
What Is Healthy?
The intent of updating the “healthy” content claim was to help consumers identify foods that can contribute to an overall healthy eating pattern, focusing on what’s in food! All too often, consumer research has shown “healthy” food being defined by terms such as organic, GMO-free and minimally processed without consideration of core nutrient content. While this updated claim will not totally change opinions, it will highlight the nutrient value of a variety of foods that contribute to an overall healthy eating pattern.
For a food to be labeled as “healthy, it now must meet the following criteria:
- Foods, like cereal, snack bars or frozen meals must contain a certain amount of a food group like fruits, vegetables, grains, protein food or dairy. (e.g., a ½ serving of whole grains or ½ cup of vegetables).
- Have limited content of saturated fat, sodium or added sugars. (e.g., no more than 10% of total fat can be saturated fat).
Based on the updated definition, foods such as:
- Nuts and seeds, olive oils, and higher-fat fish, like salmon, and eggs now quality for the claim. While these are recognized in the 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines as nutrient rich food sources, they didn’t qualify under the previous “healthy” definition due to total fat or cholesterol content.
- In addition, water can be labeled as healthy as it’s considered an “optimal beverage by the Dietary Guidelines.”
- All fruits and vegetables, regardless of their form (fresh, frozen or canned), are recognized as healthy. While this may seem common sense, the trend to “focus on fresh” often creates doubts that frozen or canned varieties are equally healthy.
While new foods were included others were eliminated. Foods such as fortified white bread without whole grains, highly sweetened yogurt or cereal, fruit snacks high in added sugar or fortified fruit punch no longer meet the “healthy” criteria due to their added sugar content or low percentage of containing an actual food group. A move in the right direction!
CHECK OUT THE FDA’S CHART DEPICTING THE CHANGES
Building a Healthy Future
Changing one definition will not change our eating habits, but it is a step in the right direction. With FDA’s recently released proposed Front-of-Pack labeling,2 a potential “healthy” package symbol and the upcoming release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines, we have tools by which to make informed healthy food choices. Food is health and medicine for our overall well-being if the healthy options are … our choices. Here’s to a healthy 2025 and beyond!
Notes
1. “A Fresh Take on What ‘Healthy’ Means on Food Packages,” U.S. Food & Drug Administration, last updated December19, 2024.
2. “Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling,” U.S. Food & Drug Administration, January 14, 2025.