US FDA’s new healthy definition encouraging nutritious diets to take effect next month

The FDA has overhauled its definition of “healthy” for the first time in 30 years to align with current nutrition science. The agency hopes this will help consumers identify nutritious foods through labels and motivate manufacturers to reformulate products. 

The updated rule sets new criteria based on food groups and nutrient-to-limit thresholds (saturated fat, sodium and added sugars) aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The definition sets specific limits for added sugars for the first time.

Foods labeled healthy must include a qualifying amount from at least one core food group (e.g., vegetables, fruits, dairy, grains, protein or oils) and meet specific nutrient limits.

Compliance for manufacturers is required by February 25, 2028.

The FDA has been ramping up efforts to support healthy consumer shopping with concerns about the link between ultra-processed foods and obesity and diabetes. It recently proposed mandatory front-of-package nutrition labels for better health outcomes.

Addressing chronic diseases

The update is also motivated to fulfill the agency’s nutrition priorities since the US faces a rising crisis on preventable, diet-related chronic diseases. It underlines that diet-related chronic diseases disproportionately impact certain racial and ethnic minority groups and those from lower socioeconomic status.

Compliance for manufacturers is required by February 25, 2028.“It’s critical for the future of our country that food be a vehicle for wellness. Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns,” says FDA commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD. 

“It is vital that we focus on the key drivers to combat chronic disease, like healthy eating. Now, people will be able to look for the healthy claim to help them find foundational, nutritious foods for themselves and their families.”

According to the FDA, diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of illness and disability, explaining why the US has the lowest life expectancy among major, wealthy countries.

Nutrition Insight learned about recent research findings that blood glucose and body mass index levels in the US are rising, warning of worsening cardiometabolic health despite improving cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The update also meets the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, which requires an update on the claim of healthy nutrient content.

Expanding definition of healthy

Additional changes under the update include more foods recognized as key to healthy eating, which may help consumers identify and buy such products. They include nuts and seeds, higher-fat fish such as salmon, olive oil and water.

The FDA is developing a “healthy” symbol for manufacturers to use on their products as an alternative to using the term.The FDA says eggs meet the updated definition of healthy and claims the recognition “closes the door on decades of debate over whether eggs are good for you and reinforces their standing as a powerhouse of nutrition.” Eggs were previously linked to cholesterol and a threat to health, famously spotlighted by TIME’s 1984 cover story.

According to data cited by the FDA, 79% of people follow dietary patterns low in fruits, vegetables and dairy products, while 77% consume more saturated fat than is currently advised. Ninety percent surpass the daily recommended limits for sodium, and 63% surpass the current dietary recommendations for added sugars. 

“Food labeling can be a powerful tool for change. Food labeling, like healthy, may help foster a healthier food supply if manufacturers choose to reformulate their products to meet the new definition,” comments FDA deputy commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones. 

“There’s an opportunity here for industry and others to join us in making healthy a ubiquitous, quick signal to help people more easily build nutritious diets.”

Currently, the FDA is developing a “healthy” symbol for manufacturers to use on their products as an alternative to using the term. It shares it is also working on voluntary sodium reduction targets and has carried out consumer research.

The FDA recently issued draft guidance with new Phase II voluntary sodium reduction targets and conducted consumer research. This, along with front-of-package nutrition labeling and the healthy claim update and symbol, is the FDA’s approach to improving nutrition and reducing diet-related chronic diseases.