by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
It may seem obvious that candy bars, potato chips, and soda can’t have wording on their labels that suggests that they are “healthy.” However, as of March 2025, a highly sweetened breakfast cereal with a bit of vitamin C added to it can be labeled as “healthy.” Avocados, nuts, and seeds cannot be labeled “healthy” because they are too high in fat to meet the FDA’s criteria. While candy bars, potato chips, and soda still can’t be labeled “healthy,” a new rule (1) scheduled to go into effect on April 28, 2025 and that must be complied with by 2028, does not allow sugary cereals to be labeled “healthy” but allows avocados, nuts, and seeds to have “healthy” on their label.
The new rule says that, in order to be labeled “healthy,” products must contain a certain amount of vegetables, fruits, “protein foods,” whole grains, and/or “dairy” and not have too much saturated fat, added sugars, or sodium. The “protein foods” group includes beans/peas/lentils and nuts/seeds/soy products along with meats, seafood, and eggs.
According to the FDA, “the ‘healthy’ claim can empower consumers by providing a quick signal on food package labels to help consumers identify foundational foods for building healthy dietary patterns” (2). The FDA also clarifies that foods that do not meet the requirements to be labeled “healthy” are on necessarily unhealthy foods (1). In addition to restricting the use of the word “healthy” to food packages that meet qualifying criteria, similar words like “health,” “healthful,” healthfully,” “healthfulness,” “healthier,” “healthiest,” “healthily,” and “healthiness” also cannot be used unless specific criteria are met (1).
Labeling a product as “healthy” is a voluntary action on the part of the manufacturer. Manufacturers don’t have to label qualifying products as “healthy” but cannot use words like “healthy,” on products that do not meet the updated requirements.
According to FDA’s website, “The FDA is postponing the effective date for the final rule, entitled “Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term ‘Healthy’” until April 28, 2025. The final rule was published with an effective date of February 25, 2025. The FDA is postponing the effective date in accordance with the January 20, 2025, memorandum from the President, entitled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” with respect to reviewing any questions of fact, law, and policy applicable to rules that have been published in the Federal Register but have not taken effect. “
References
- Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR Part 101. [Docket No. FDA-2016-D-2335] Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims: Definition of Term “Healthy.” https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29957/food-labeling-nutrient-content-claims-definition-of-term-healthy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. 2024.
- FDA Finalizes Updated “Healthy” Nutrient Content Claim. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-finalizes-updated-healthy-nutrient-content-claim?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. 2025.
To read more about “healthy” on food labels see: