WASHINGTON – Today the Food and Drug Administration announced a final rule updating the definition of “healthy” claims that food manufacturers can use on their product packaging. The rule is a step in the right direction but fails to fully address the growing crisis of preventable, diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S.
The new rule aims to help consumers find foods that legitimately support a healthy dietary pattern and to encourage manufacturers to develop healthier products. Manufacturers can voluntarily use the “healthy” claim on product labels if they meet the revised criteria, which requires more complete and accurate nutrition information on food labels.
The Environmental Working Group in comments submitted to the FDA in 2022 sought stronger action from the agency in the final rule to better tackle misleading product claims. The following is a statement from Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president of government affairs:
The FDA’s updated rule is a long-overdue step forward, but it’s not enough. For far too long, consumers have been misled by outdated and inconsistent standards that allowed sugary cereals and processed snacks to be labeled as ‘healthy.’
The FDA’s new rule still falls short, particularly in allowing food products with harmful food chemicals and ultra-processed ingredients to be labeled as ‘healthy.’
The FDA’s final rule is a missed opportunity to do more. While it’s good that it is now harder to make misleading ‘healthy’ claims, it’s not good that foods labeled ‘healthy’ can still contain dangerous substances like harmful food chemicals.
EWG continues to advocate for transparency and healthier food options through its Food Scores database, which analyzes more than 80,000 products on nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. The findings in Food Scores emphasize the need for stricter standards to combat misleading claims and promote public health.
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