FDA Overhauls ‘Healthy’ Food Label Definition

The FDA says it updated the criteria for ‘healthy’ food labels to allow consumers to make more informed choices to combat diet-related chronic diseases.

Canadian certified organic farm-raised King Salmon filets are placed on a tray in a store in Fairfax, Va., on April 10, 2015. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a final rule for significant updates to the definition of “healthy” for food labeling on Dec. 19, marking the first major revision since 1994.

The new rule, which aligns with modern nutrition science and dietary guidelines, is designed to empower consumers to make more informed food choices and potentially reduce the prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases in the United States, according to the agency.