Packaged foods in the U.S. will have to follow new rules in order to call themselves “healthy,” according to changes finalized Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration.
It’s an update of the agency’s definition originally devised 30 years ago. The move is aimed at helping Americans navigate food labels at the grocery store and make choices that are aligned with federal dietary guidelines — in hopes of reducing rates of diet-related chronic disease, the FDA said.
Under the rule, products that claim to be “healthy” must contain a certain amount of food from one or more food groups such as fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. And for the first time, the rule sets certain limits for added sugars. Foods must also limit sodium and saturated fat at levels that depend on the type of product, the FDA said.
The change banishes foods such as sugary cereals, highly sweetened yogurts, white bread and some granola bars from bearing a “healthy” label, while allowing foods such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, eggs and some trail mix to use it. Even water can now be labeled as healthy, the agency said.
“It's critical for the future of the country that food be a vehicle for wellness,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. “Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.”
The new rule will take effect within two months and food manufacturers will have until February 2028 to comply. A label that designates certain foods as healthy is still being developed, FDA officials said. Under the previous rule, about 15% of products were eligible for the healthy designation, but only 5% made the claim.
First proposed in 2022, the change is a much-needed update to “horribly outdated” guidance, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.
“Big picture, this is a huge improvement from a 30-year-old outdated definition based on 40-year-old science,” he said.
The new rule acknowledges that dietary and nutrition knowledge has progressed over three decades and that the previous definition didn’t jibe with dietary guidelines that are the cornerstone of federal programs and policies.
Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group, said that the new rule “stands to exclude some packaged foods, despite countless years of industry innovation to provider healthier options.”
Sarah Gallo, an official for the group, said it is concerned the new rule “is not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence” and doesn't fully consider the full potential economic impact on consumers.
The updated criteria are based on data that could improve public health, including diet-related chronic ailments such as heart disease and diabetes, the FDA said.
More than three-quarters of Americans have diets low in vegetables, fruit and dairy, according to the FDA. Nearly 80% exceed limits on saturated fat, more than 60% exceed limits on added sugars and about 90% exceed limits on sodium that can reduce chronic disease.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FILE - Canadian certified organic farm-raised King Salmon filets are placed on a tray in a store in Fairfax, Va., April 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Son Heung-min scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner to fire Tottenham into the English League Cup semifinals in a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester United on Thursday.
Spurs will play Premier League leader Liverpool for a place in the final, and Arsenal was drawn against Newcastle in the other last-four matchup.
Son’s strike in the 88th-minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium came as Spurs tried to hold off a dramatic comeback from United, having led 3-0 in the second half.
United had pulled it back to 3-2 and was pushing for an equalizer when Son whipped in a curling right-footed shot past goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
“Obviously we made it harder than it should have been, for sure," Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said and added, “Are you not entertained?”
United’s players complained Bayindir had been fouled by Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall as Son’s shot flew past him. Replays appeared to show contact between the two, but with no VAR at this stage of the competition, there was no chance of a review.
Jonny Evans scored again for United in stoppage time, but Spurs held on for the win that had looked all but certain shortly after halftime.
Having gone ahead through Dominic Solanke’s goal from close range in the 15th, Tottenham took control after the break.
Dejan Kulusevski doubled the lead a minute after the restart and Solanke fired in his second in the 54th.
United head coach Ruben Amorim made a triple substitution — bringing on Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo.
It quickly had an impact with Zirkzee forcing Fraser Forster into a flying save and then capitalizing on a loose pass by the Tottenham goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
Forster was guilty of another mistake in the 70th when his attempted clearance was closed down by Diallo and ricocheted over the line.
United increased the pressure, but Son’s unlikely goal gave Spurs a cushion again — and it proved to be the decisive strike after Evans’ late header reduced the deficit again.
“I know the studio (punditry team) is probably going into meltdown over my lack of tactics,” Postecoglou said. “I love the fact that we go out there and take it to oppositions.”
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui in action during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Manchester United's manager Ruben Amorim reacts during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou reacts during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui in action during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Tottenham's Dominic Solanke, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Manchester United's manager Ruben Amorim reacts during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
Tottenham's Son Heung-min, right, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Tottenham and Manchester United, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland )
