What does the term “healthy” really mean when it comes to food? While many agree that fruits and vegetables fit the bill, the status of meat, pasta, white bread, low-fat ice cream bars, vegetable snack chips, and walnuts is less clear. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a definition for “healthy” on food labels back in 1994. However, as Kind Snacks discovered when it received a warning from the FDA two years ago regarding the saturated fat levels in some of its bars, this definition is outdated. A key aspect of this definition pertains to fat content; although Kind bars contain more fat than other “healthy” items, this is primarily due to their nut content, which is naturally higher in fat.
At an FDA hearing in Maryland, Justin Mervis, Kind’s senior vice president and general counsel, presented a chart comparing “healthy” items, as defined by the FDA, with those that do not meet the criteria. Under the “healthy” category, one could find brightly colored children’s fruit cereal, low-fat chocolate pudding, and frosted toaster pastries. In contrast, almonds, avocados, and salmon were labeled as non-“healthy.”
In May 2016, the FDA reversed its stance on Kind’s “healthy” claim and committed to re-evaluating the definition after receiving a petition from Kind. By September, the FDA officially began reviewing the term’s definition, and it is accepting comments until April 26th on how best to redefine it to align with current dietary science.
A public hearing this week aimed to gather insights from manufacturers, nutritionists, and the public on redefining the term to better reflect modern dietary patterns. During the discussion, Mervis emphasized the need for a clear and regulated definition of “healthy” to serve consumers effectively. “It’s simply just a signal,” he stated. “It indicates that this food meets certain criteria. They are foods generally recognized as beneficial, with minimal negative aspects.”
While this sounds straightforward, creating a new definition for “healthy” is more complex than it appears. According to Douglas Balentine, director of the FDA’s Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, the term “healthy” is not universally defined; each consumer has their own interpretation of what constitutes healthy food. Most expect government regulators to provide accurate information, and if a product claims to be healthy, it should adhere to a commonly accepted definition. Balentine noted the original definition was designed to reduce fat intake while encouraging the consumption of essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, protein, calcium, and fiber. Nowadays, however, consumers are more focused on the overall nutritional profile of the foods they eat, with an emphasis on reducing added sugars rather than merely limiting fat intake.
According to the FDA’s 2014 Health and Diet survey, 77% of adults utilize food labels to inform their purchases, as reported by Linda Verrill from the agency’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The same study indicated that 79% of consumers pay attention to labels at least occasionally when trying a new product. Although these figures are noteworthy, health claims carry even more weight; nearly 90% of consumers factor health claims into their food choices. Many will stop reading a product label upon seeing a health claim that aligns with their needs, leading them to make assumptions about other health aspects, such as lower added sugars.
Verrill shared insights from studies indicating that consumers are influenced by health claims, often assuming products with such claims are healthier without further investigation. For instance, one study showed that consumers selected snack chips labeled as a source of vitamins without considering their overall healthfulness. Another study found that consumers rated junk food with health-related claims as healthier options.
David Portalatin from The NPD Group noted that consumers actively seek information and pay attention to product labels. They prefer to see details about sugar content rather than calorie counts, indicating a shift in focus toward overall nutritional quality rather than merely avoiding fat or cholesterol. Many consumers today create personalized dietary regimens based on their research and understanding of what works best for them.
When asked what “healthy” means, consumers often cite attributes like low sugar, low fat, and low sodium, according to Liz Sanders from the International Food Information Council Foundation. Given that consumers place significant trust in food labeling terminology, the FDA must carefully craft the definition to promote healthier eating habits.
The conversation around redefining “healthy” also involves the goals of food manufacturers and nutrition experts. Manufacturers, like Kind, advocate for the ability to label their products as healthy, while nutritionists emphasize the need for those claims to reflect genuine nutritional benefits. Mervis proposed that healthy foods should be rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, or nuts and should not contain excessive added sugars, sodium, unhealthy fats, or artificial ingredients.
The discussion isn’t limited to Kind; Conagra, known for its Healthy Choice brand, also expressed interest in redefining “healthy.” Kristin Reimers from Conagra highlighted the evolution of consumer perceptions since the brand’s inception in the 1980s and emphasized that a clear definition could rejuvenate interest in products that meet healthy criteria.
Lindsay Moyer from the Center for Science in the Public Interest argued for stringent guidelines, asserting that food labels should not serve merely as marketing tools for processed foods posing as healthy.
However, Pepin Tuma from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics pointed out that there is no universal agreement on what “healthy” should entail, noting that while fruits and vegetables are universally acknowledged as healthy, they do not require labeling. Tuma indicated a frustrating lack of consensus among dietitians regarding a legal definition for the term.
In conclusion, while the conversation about what constitutes “healthy” food continues, it is evident that a thoughtful redefinition is necessary to guide consumers toward better dietary choices. As consumers increasingly seek clarity in food labeling, integrating elements such as calcium citrate supplements 500 mg into broader discussions about nutrient adequacy and healthfulness may also become crucial in shaping the future of food labeling standards.