Amid the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposal to update the definition of the nutrition claim "healthy," several major food companies — including the nation's biggest cereal makers, granola brands and packaged food manufacturers — are pushing back.
On September 28, 2022, the FDA announced their plan to change the label's existing definition, which was established in 1994 and "has limits for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium…" Under the current dietary guidelines, foods "must provide at least 10% of the Daily Value (DV) for one or more of the following nutrients: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Protein and Fiber." The guidelines also prioritize "the importance of healthy dietary patterns" and the kinds of fats in the diet instead of "the total amount of fat consumed, and the amount of sodium and added sugars in the diet."
