In an effort to improve the American diet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a release Thursday a new definition what it means for a food to be considered “healthy”.
Products like fruit-flavored yogurt, fortified white bread and sweetened energy bars can no longer claim to be healthy if they exceed certain limits for saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.
At the same time, foods such as salmon, almonds and even water are considered healthy for the first time.
The new definition reflects the advice contained therein Dietary Guidelines for Americanswhich are prepared by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. The hope is that consumers who consider health claims on packaged foods when filling their shopping carts will be guided toward more nutritious eating habits. said the FDA.
There's no question that Americans can use help with their diet. For example, less than half of adults in the US eat a piece of fruit every day, and only 12% According to nationwide surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should consume the recommended 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit per day. When it comes to vegetables, Americans are even further off the mark: only 10% meet the goal of 2 to 3 cups per day.
On the other hand, 90% of us eat too much sodium, 75% eat too much saturated fat and 63% eat too much added sugar, according to the FDA.
The new healthy food definition aims to change this by excluding foods with excess sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, even if they also contain valuable nutrients such as protein and whole grains.
The specific limits vary depending on the food group. The limits also depend on whether a product is a single food (like cheese), a “mixed product” (like trail mix), or a complete meal (like a frozen meal).
For example, for a dairy product such as yogurt to be considered healthy, a single 2/3 cup serving must contain no more than 5% of the recommended daily allowance of added sugars, 10% of the recommended daily allowance of sodium, or 10% of the recommended daily allowance of saturated fatty acids.
These limits equate to 2.5 grams of added sugar, 230 milligrams of sodium and 2 grams of saturated fat. A single serving of Chobani Strawberry Greek Yogurt would miss the mark because it contains 9 grams of added sugar. The same goes for Chobani’s “less sugar” variety 5 grams of added sugar.
Sugar, salt and fat are just part of the new criteria. To meet the new definition of healthy, foods must contain a minimum amount of proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables or fat-free or low-fat dairy products, the FDA said.
Whole foods like eggs, beans, seafood and nuts are automatically considered healthy if they are sold without any additional ingredients (other than water). This means that foods such as avocados, olive oil and fatty fish such as salmon can be labeled as healthy for the first time. Fruits, vegetables and fish are eligible if they are fresh, frozen or canned, making them accessible to people with different budgets, the agency said.
However, products such as fortified bread, cereal, fruit snacks, granola bars and fruit punch will lose the label unless they are reformulated to meet the new definition.
Nancy Brown, executive director of the American Heart Assn., said the new definition is long overdue and hopes it will improve Americans' diets by encouraging food manufacturers to make healthier products. However, she added that it would make more sense to require products to have nutrition labeling on the front of their packaging, which she said would make it easier for consumers to identify and choose healthier options.
The previous definition of healthy foods, from 1994, focused more on total fat and cholesterol. Since then, nutritionists have recognized that not all fats should be treated equally and that unsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds, fish and certain vegetable oils can reduce the risk of disease.
The old definition also required foods to contain at least 10% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein or fiber. The FDA said it is shifting its focus from specific nutrients to larger food groups to help consumers establish healthy dietary patterns.
Poor nutrition is a risk factor for many Main causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.
Food manufacturers have three years to adapt to the new definition, according to the FDA, although those that meet the new criteria won't have to wait that long to start using the “healthy” label.