Since 1994 many of us have marketed foods using the “Healthy” claim, such as those lower in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and lactose.
Unfortunately, it was easily abused simply because FDA had no legal definition of the term, until now that is. After years of public comment and industry wrangling, FDA finally codified the term.
Fortuitously, the new definition of “Healthy” works to the advantage of shelled hempseed, or “Hemp Nut,” by requiring protein content equal to the use of 1 ounce of the 30% protein food from the hemp grain, high in omega-3. Add it to a prepared food low in sugar, salt, and saturated fat to use the “Healthy” claim on the package.
Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims;
Definition of Term “Healthy”
Since 1994, we have recognized that when a manufacturer uses labeling that describes a product as “healthy” in the nutritional context, it is making an implicit claim about the level of nutrients in the product. In particular, such a claim implies that the nutrient content of the food may help consumers maintain healthy dietary practices. Given that nutrition science has evolved since the 1990s, this final rule updates the definition of “healthy” to be consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance to help ensure that consumers have access to more complete, accurate, and up-to-date information on food labels. This final rule is also consistent with the longstanding purpose of this implied nutrient content claim to indicate that the nutrient levels of a food may help consumers maintain healthy dietary practices and furthers FDA’s goals in accordance with its statutory mandate to prevent misleading labeling and reduce consumer confusion that can result from the use of inconsistent definitions for nutrient content claims. […]
In the current marketplace, about 5 percent of all packaged foods are labeled as “healthy.” Because nutrition science has evolved over time, updating the definition of the implied nutrient content claim “healthy” to more closely align with nutrition science underpinning the Dietary Guidelines, 2020-2025 will better inform consumers who are selecting those products to choose a more healthful diet, which may result in lower incidence of diet-related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Quantifiable benefits of the rule are the estimated reduction over time in all-cause mortality stemming from consumers that rely upon the “healthy” implied nutrient content claim selecting and consuming more healthful foods. Discounted at 3 percent over 20 years, the mean present value of benefits is estimated at $686 million, or $46 million annualized. This is calculated through the inverse association between a Healthy Eating Index score and all-cause mortality (Ref. 44). Quantifiable costs to manufacturers associated with updating the “healthy” claim are reformulating, labeling, and recordkeeping. Discounted at 3 percent over 20 years, the mean present value of costs is estimated at $403 million, or $27 million annualized. Potential costs of rebranding certain foods are discussed qualitatively. Net benefits are estimated at $283 million, or $19 million annualized. […]
Click here to read it in the Federal Register.