April 10, 2025
Enroll in the “Healthy” Nutrient Content Claim Course
Enroll in the “Healthy” Nutrient Content Claim course to access all lessons and resources.
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Presentations:
About This Course
Claims like “healthy” on food labels can help consumers identify healthier food choices at a quick glance. Foods must meet specific criteria to use the “healthy” nutrient content claim. On December 27, 2024, the FDA issued a final rule to update the “healthy” claim that manufacturers can voluntarily use on food packages. The updated criteria for the claim replace outdated criteria for “healthy” with criteria that are consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance.
To meet the updated criteria for the claim, a food product needs to:
- Contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (fruit, vegetables, grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy and protein foods), and
- Meet specific limits for added sugars, saturated fat and sodium.
The criteria for how much food from a particular food group is required (called food group equivalents) and the specific limits for the three individual nutrients vary for individual food products, mixed products (which contain certain amounts of more than one food group), main dishes and meals, and are based on a Reference Amount Customarily Consumed, which is the basis for determining a serving size.
In this webinar FDA staff provide an overview of the “Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term “Healthy” final rule and answer pre-submitted questions.