US FDA holds webinar on shaping, regulating and defining the proposed “healthy” label

24 Oct 2022 --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a webinar on October 21 to inform stakeholders on the proposals for instituting the “healthy” label for foods, as laid out during the recent White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health. 

Vincent DeJesus, a nutritionist for the FDA’s nutrition assessment and evaluation branch, answered questions posed by NutritionInsight during the webinar. Other FDA experts were also present.

The proposed rules for the healthy nutrition labeling initiative are focused on reducing diet-related chronic and noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes. The presenters note that these illnesses are among the leading causes of death in the US.

“Our nutrition initiative aligns very well with the recent White House Conference,” states Dr. Claudine Kavanaugh, director at the office of nutrition and food labeling for the FDA. “Updating the nutrient content claim for healthy aligns not only with FDA nutrition initiatives, but also with the White House’s nutrition strategy.”

Updating the definitionThe presenters state that a main goal is to reduce the incidence of noncommunicable diet-related diseases.
According to DeJesus, currently only about 15% of foods on the market would qualify for the healthy label. Many foods like sugary yogurts, breakfast cereals and white breads likely do not meet the proposed standards. 

The definition will have limits for cholesterol as well as total fat and saturated fat. It will also have criteria for sugars and sodium. Furthermore, the foods will have to provide at least 10% of the daily recommended amount for six different nutrients, including vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, fiber and protein.

“So why did we decide to update ‘healthy?’” DeJesus asks. “Well, dietary recommendations and nutrition science have evolved since we published the rule in 1994, and so the current healthy criteria are no longer consistent with nutrition science.”

“We know that claims have the potential to improve nutrition and advance health equity, and these claims act as quick signals as a point of purchase for consumers so they can easily identify foods and that they can build their healthy dietary patterns.”

“These claims are especially helpful for shoppers and also for those with lower nutrition knowledge.”

A framework for food groups
Meanwhile, Dr. Sarah Gebauerm, a nutritionist for CFSAN at the FDA, explains that the update will include a framework for food groups. In order to receive the updated healthy label, products will also need to contain a certain amount of food groups or subgroups.To qualify for the label, products must provide at least 10% or the recommended daily values of six different nutrients.

Gebauerm states that this will help provide a better reflection of the nutrient density of food products and they plan to institute new requirements based on food group equivalents (FGEs). These FGEs are found by taking current dietary guidelines and dividing them by four to allow for four different meals during the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack.

“Our general approach for the limits for each of these nutrients is we’ve proposed baseline limits as a percentage of the daily value for each nutrient, and then you’ve adjusted those limits as warranted based on specific considerations for the different food groups and subgroups,” Gebauerm underscores. “The intent of the adjustments is to be consistent with current nutrition science and dietary guidance.”

“For example, for saturated fat, we’re proposing a baseline limit of less than or equal to 5% of the daily value. This amount is consistent with our low saturated fat nutrient content claim that we already have.”

Good news for supplements?
The question posed by NutritionInsight pertained to whether or not dietary supplements could qualify for the updated healthy labeling and how ingredients like low-calorie sweeteners may be affected. 

Supplements are not prohibited from bearing nutrient content claims in general, and this includes bearing the nutrient content claim “healthy,” says DeJesus. “So dietary supplements could be able to bear the claim if they meet the criteria in the definition.” 

However, he also notes that proposed conditions for the use of the healthy label will make it difficult for some supplements and or replacement foods like sweeteners. “For example, products need to meet the food group equivalent requirements, which could make some supplements ineligible to be for the claim,” he explains.

By William Bradford Nichols