New FDA Rules Will Change What Counts as a 'Healthy' Food

When it comes to finding food in stores that's good for you, many manufacturers have attempted to make it easy by labeling their products as "healthy." But a new ruling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on just what "healthy" food actually is. 

The FDA just announced that it's redefining what it considers to be "healthy" and, as a result, what these manufacturers can label as such. For something to be considered "healthy" under the new guidelines, food products must contain a certain amount of a food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including fruits, vegetables, protein foods, dairy, and grains. If a food does qualify for the "healthy" claim, it also has to adhere to certain limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. As a result, foods like white bread and sugary cereals will be barred from claiming to be "healthy" while other foods like nuts, eggs, salmon, and olive oil can brandish the "healthy" label. 

"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," FDA commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. "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.”

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Until the effects of the new rules are seen on grocery store shelves, stick to checking the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to shop smart.