The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday proposed new rules defining when foods qualify as "healthy" in the United States as part of efforts to promote healthy eating.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates foods that can be labeled as "healthy." The term "healthy" was last defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1993 and was based on then-current guidelines for things like fat intake and certain amounts of vitamins.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the new rules will change the definition of "healthy" to reflect "modern nutritional science." Under the new rules, more foods such as nuts, seeds and certain oils will be able to be labeled as "healthy".
If the FDA's proposed rules are adopted, foods labeled as "healthy" would have to contain "adequate" amounts of at least one or more food groups recommended in the federal government's dietary guidelines. Products must meet specific restrictions on nutrients such as saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.
The agency noted in guidelines published in 2016 that the scientific understanding of nutrition has changed in the 20 years since the definition of "health." These changes include "good fats" such as polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to reduce the risk of certain diseases.
The FDA also notes that dietary habits have changed and deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamins A and C are no longer a public health concern.
"Nutrition is key to improving the health of our nation," Health and Human Services Secretary Javier Becerra said in a statement. "A healthy diet can reduce the risk of chronic disease. But many people don't know what a healthy diet is. FDA action will help improve health outcomes, end disparities in health and educate more Americans to save lives."
The FDA announcement came on the same day as the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health. During the conference, Becerra partnered with federal and local lawmakers to refine this nutrition message.
"We need to do this so everyone understands that nutrition is health and food is medicine," Becerra said.
Rosa DeLaura (D-Conn.), chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education, spoke at the event, calling for action to increase access to plant-based foods and calling for more research on the human connection. Nutrition and chronic diseases.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has opened up about how his diet affects his health and called the need to eat better a "moral duty".
"It's not just about professional responsibility, it's about personal responsibility," Adams said, adding that he "went blind one day."
"The doctor told me I would be blind within a year. I was going to lose several fingers and toes due to permanent nerve damage, but found out I was past the advanced stages of diabetes."
Adams said her health was "not my DNA, it's my dinner." According to Mayer, after switching to a “whole plant diet,” her health issues disappeared.
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