Tea brands win big as FDA endorses “healthy” label claim for unsweetened varieties

The US FDA has issued its final rule on using the term “healthy” on food labels, greenlighting tea brands with the opportunity to use this claim. Certain tea products, including tea bags and bottled tea, can now display the “healthy” claim on packaging, provided they contain less than 5 calories per 12 fluid ounce serving.

“We are thrilled that the FDA’s new ruling officially recognizes unsweetened tea as a ‘healthy’ choice,” comments Peter Goggi, president of the Tea Council of the USA.

“For decades, we’ve known that tea delivers significant health benefits, and now consumers can more easily identify it as a ‘healthy’ choice right on the label. This designation not only validates tea’s role in a balanced diet but will also encourage more Americans to reach for this naturally refreshing, calorie-free beverage.”

The foods and beverages that qualify to bear the FDA’s “healthy” claim meet limits on added sugar, sodium and saturated fats based on Daily Value recommendations within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025.

The FDA recently overhauled its definition of “healthy” for the first time in 30 years to align with current nutrition science. Eggs were also officially recognized as healthy, and the agency notes that label claims act as quick consumer signals on food packages to encourage informed purchasing choices.

Flavanol-packed drink

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water, and scientific research provides robust support for its health benefits. True teas — black, green, oolong, white and dark — all come from the same plant, a warm-weather evergreen named Camellia sinensis.

True tea has the highest concentrations of flavan-3-ols of all foods and beverages, making it a go-to source for this powerful plant compound, highlights the FDA.

The agency highlights two cups of green or black tea has 400–600 mg of healthy, bioactive flavan-3-ols, which is the recommended daily intake shown to help reduce the risk associated with heart disease and diabetes and improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Each eight fluid oz. cup of tea consumed by those over 65 years old was associated with a 10% lower risk of death from heart disease.

Backed by a growing body of scientific evidence, tea exhibits the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.Heart disease prevention

A supporting 2021 review found that a consistent intake of two cups of tea per day has the potential to decrease risk of heart disease and its progression.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US. Among people aged 18 and older, the FDA flags 11.6% have been diagnosed with diabetes, with an estimated 3.4% of people going undiagnosed. It estimates obesity prevalence at 41.9% among adults in the US.

“With these rates at an all-time high, especially among those who are in underserved socially, culturally, and economically diverse (SCED) communities, it is more important than ever to examine accessible, health-promoting beverage recommendations for all Americans,” states the FDA.

“True tea is affordable, accessible, and available. A one-cup serving of unsweetened brewed tea is calorie-free and contains 0 g saturated fat, 7 mg sodium and 0 g sugar. Given the prominent availability of high-calorie, sugar-sweetened drinks in underserved SCED communities, the FDA’s ‘healthy’ claim may help provide consumer direction on drink choice where it is most needed.”

Tea linked to healthier patterns

The FDA highlights that hot or iced tea is a major contributor to beverage intake in the US, with about 20% of adults reporting drinking tea on any given day.

The agency cites research indicating that adults who consume more tea consume significantly fewer high-calorie, sugar-sweetened beverages.

Adult tea drinkers’ diets have been found to be healthier, as they contain significantly higher amounts of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, potassium, iron and magnesium, while being lower in added sugars and alcohol.

Tea consumers also had a healthier overall dietary pattern with higher total fruit and vegetables, eggs, soy, oils, seafood and milk consumption, which aligns with healthy eating recommendations.

Prioritizing hydration

Both caffeinated and decaffeinated tea are hydrating beverages, highlights the FDA. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine reference intakes for water outline that caffeinated beverages appear to contribute to the daily total water intake at rates similar to that of non-caffeinated beverages.

Caffeinated tea supplies up to approximately 50 mg of caffeine per cup, and evidence shows no effect on hydration with intakes of up to 400 mg of caffeine per day or the equivalent of eight cups of tea.

In recent nutrition product innovation, sports and active nutrition player PLT Health Solutions revealed it is adding Cellflo6 — a patented green tea (Camellia sinensis) oligomer containing gallate — to its ingredient portfolio. The ingredient has been clinically studied and shown to have a range of health benefits and supports exercise and recovery.