Industry News

FDA atDecember 19, 2024The final rule has been released, updating the guidelines that manufacturers can voluntarily use on food packaging."healthy"The updated standards are consistent with current nutritional science and federal dietary guidelines.

The updated "Healthy" claim

Claims like "healthy" on food labels help consumers identify healthier food choices at a glance. To use the "healthy" nutritional content claim, a food must meet specific standards. Updated standards replace older standards with those more aligned with current nutritional science and federal dietary guidelines. For example, current U.S. dietary guidelines emphasize: the importance of healthy eating patterns and their constituent food groups; the types of fat in the diet, rather than the total amount of fat; and the sodium and added sugar content. The updated standards aim to identify foods that help consumers establish healthy eating patterns.

To meet the updated "healthy" standard, food products must:

1. It contains a certain amount of food from at least one food group or subgroup recommended by dietary guidelines (e.g., fruits, vegetables, grains, skim and low-fat dairy products, and protein foods); and

2. It meets the specific limits for added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.

The required quantity of a certain food group (calledFood group equivalentAnd the specific limitations of these three nutrients will vary depending on...Single foods, mixed foods (containing multiple food groups), main dishes, and mealsBut different, and withReference Amount (Customarily Consumed)It is the basis for determining the size of the portion.

Products that now meet the "Healthy" standard

According to the updated "healthy" standard, foods that are nutrient-dense and recommended by dietary guidelines—such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, skim and low-fat dairy products, lean game, seafood, eggs, legumes, peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds—if...No other ingredients were added besides water.They will automatically qualify for the "healthy" claim because they have good nutritional properties and have a positive effect on an overall healthy diet.

Under the updated standards, water, avocados, nuts and seeds, fatty fish (such as salmon), and olive oil can now also use the "healthy" claim. These foods include many varieties suitable for different budgets, such as fresh, frozen, or canned fruits, vegetables, and fish.

Products that previously met the "healthy" standard but no longer meet the new standard include:Fortified white bread, high-sugar yogurt, and high-sugar cereals。

Updated standards for certain food groups and example foods

Based on regular consumption reference volume

oz = ounce

g = grams

mg = milligram

DV = Daily intake percentage

Food Groups Food categories	Food Group Equivalent Minimum Minimum quantity of food categories	Added Sugar Limit Add sugar limit	Sodium Limit sodium limit	Saturated Fat Limit Upper limit of saturated fat
Grains product Grain products	3/4 oz whole-grain equivalent 3/4 ounce whole grain equivalent	10% DV (5 g) 10% DV (5 grams)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g) 5% DV (1 gram)
Dairy product  dairy	2/3 cup equivalent 2/3 cup equivalent	5% DV (2.5 g) 5% DV (2.5 g)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	10% DV (2 g) 10% DV (2 grams)
Vegetable product  Vegetable products	1/2 cup equivalent 1/2 cup equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g) 5% DV (1 gram)
Fruit product Fruit products	1/2 cup equivalent 1/2 cup equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g) 5% DV (1 gram)
Protein Foods  Protein foods
Game meat Wild game meat	1 ½ oz equivalent 1 1/2 ounce equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	10% DV (2 g)
Seafood seafood	1 oz equivalent 1 ounce equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g)* 5% DV (1 gram)*
Egg egg	1 egg 1 egg	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	10% DV (2 g)
Beans, peas, and  Beans, peas and	1 oz equivalent 1 ounce equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g) 5% DV (1 gram)
lentils Lentils
Nuts, seeds, and soy products Nuts, seeds and soy products	1 oz equivalent 1 ounce equivalent	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	5% DV (1 g)* 5% DV (1 gram)*
Oils  oils
100% Oil 100% oil	N/A not applicable	0% DV	0% DV	20% of total fat 20% of total fat
Oil-based Oil-based	N/A not applicable	0% DV	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	20% of total fat 20% of total fat
Spreads Topical products
Oil-based Oil-based	N/A not applicable	2% DV (1 g) 2% DV (1 gram)	10% DV (230 mg) 10% DV (230 mg)	20% of total fat 20% of total fat
Dressing** seasoning
* Excluding saturated fat inherent in nuts, seeds, soy products, and seafood * Free of saturated fats found in nuts, seeds, soy products, and seafood. ** Must contain at least 30% oil  It must contain at least 30% oil.
Sample Foods Example food
	Individual food single serving	Mixed product Mixed products	Meal meal
Amount of food groups required Number of food groups required	1 food group equivalent* 1 food group equivalent*	1 total food group equivalent with at least 1/4 food group equivalent from 2 or more food groups One total food group equivalent, of which at least one-quarter of the food group equivalent comes from two or more food groups.	3 total food group equivalents with at least 1/2 food group equivalent from 3 or more food groups Three total food group equivalents, of which at least half of the food group equivalents come from three or more food groups.
	2/3 cup yogurt 2/3 cup yogurt	For example, 1/8 cup dried fruit and 1/4 oz nuts For example, 1/8 cup dried fruit and 1/4 ounce nuts	For example, 1 oz salmon, 1/2 cup green beans, 3/4 oz brown rice For example, 1 ounce of salmon, 1/2 cup of green beans, and 3/4 ounce of brown rice.
Nutrients to Limit (no more than)** Limit nutrients (not exceeding)**	2 g saturated fat 2 grams of saturated fat	2 g saturated fat*** 2 grams of saturated fat***	4 g saturated fat*** 4 grams of saturated fat***
	230 mg sodium 230 mg sodium	345 mg sodium 345 mg sodium	690 mg sodium 690 mg sodium
	2.5 g added sugar 2.5 grams of added sugar	5 g added sugar 5 grams of added sugar	10 g added sugar 10 grams of added sugar
* A food group equivalent is the minimum amount of a food group required *Food group equivalent is the minimum amount of the required food group. ** Amounts based on percentage of the Daily Value for that nutrient **The quantity is based on a percentage of the daily intake of this nutrient. *** Saturated fat inherent in nuts, seeds, soy products, and seafood does not contribute to limit ***Saturated fats inherent in nuts, seeds, soy products, and seafood are not included in the limit.