In an era where consumers are increasingly focused on diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other groups are taking steps to help Americans better understand food and beverage labels.
The agency's recalibration of the "healthy" labeling criteria and introduction of a front-of-pack nutrition label offer the potential to reshape food product development while empowering consumers to make more informed dietary choices.
Redefining 'Healthy'
The FDA's definition of "healthy" has remained mostly unchanged since the 1990s, leading to a disconnect between scientific advancements in nutrition and food marketing. Under the new labeling rule, foods labeled as "healthy" must align more closely with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The voluntary regulation goes into effect on April 28, 2025. Brand owners have three years to comply. There is no maximum or minimum type size for using the term "healthy" on packaging.
To qualify for the "healthy" label claim under the updated definition, a food product must contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups, such as fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, fat-free and low-fat dairy, and lean game meat, recommended by the Dietary Guidelines. The food product also must meet specific limits for added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.
With these changes, more foods that are key to healthy eating habits will qualify for the "healthy" labeling claim, possibly making them easier for consumers to identify when shopping. These foods include nuts and seeds, eggs, higher-fat fish such as salmon, olive oil, avocados, water, coffee, and tea.
In the past, products such as highly sweetened cereal, highly sweetened yogurt, fortified white bread, and snack bars high in added sugars met the "healthy" labeling criteria. Those products no longer qualify to use the "healthy" claim under the amended definition.
In addition to revising the "healthy" criteria, the FDA is actively developing a universal "healthy" graphic symbol that brand owners can display on the packaging. This visual cue would complement the term "healthy," making it easier for consumers to recognize foods quickly that align with the updated nutritional standards.
Front-of-Pack Labeling
Alongside the revamped "healthy" criteria, the FDA is considering a standardized Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling system designed to provide quick, at-a-glance nutrition information. "If finalized, the proposal would give consumers readily visible information about a food's saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content—three nutrients directly linked with chronic diseases when consumed in excess," stated the FDA.
The proposed FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the "Nutrition Info box," provides information on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has "Low," "Med," or "High" levels of these nutrients and their percent Daily Value (DV). It complements the FDA's iconic Nutrition Facts panel, which gives consumers more detailed information about the serving size, calories per serving, and the nutrients in their food.
A "Low" designation represents a 5% DV or below. A "Med" term signifies a 6% to 19% DV, while a "High" moniker indicates a 20% DV or above. The box would have to appear on the upper third of the principal display panel with a minimum 8-point type size.
In 2023, the FDA conducted an experimental study of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults to explore consumer responses to three different FOP labels. The study revealed that the black-and-white Nutrition Info scheme with the percent Daily Value performed best in helping consumers identify healthier food options.
If the proposal becomes law, it will require food manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual sales to add a Nutrition Info box to the front of most packaged food products three years after the final rule's effective date. Brand owners with less than $10 million in annual sales will have four years to comply.
The FDA will accept comments on the proposed rule until May 16, 2025.
'Alcohol Facts' and Allergen Labeling
Another U.S. government agency, the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), has recently proposed two new regulations for labeling malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits.
In its Federal Register Notice No. 237, the TTB proposed an "Alcohol Facts" label disclosing the serving size, servings per container, alcohol content as a percentage of alcohol by volume, fluid ounces of pure ethyl alcohol per serving, calories per serving, and grams per serving of carbohydrates, fat, and protein.
The TTB proposed a compliance date of 5 years from the date of a final rule published in the Federal Register. Stakeholders can comment on the proposed rule until April 17, 2025.
TTB's other labeling proposal, Federal Register Notice No. 238, calls for mandatory allergen labeling on alcoholic beverages. Under the proposed rule, the label must declare milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame, as well as ingredients that contain protein derived from these foods, if used in the production of the alcoholic beverage.
Like the "Alcohol Facts" proposal, stakeholders have until April 17, 2025, to submit their comments on the allergen labeling rule. It also has a compliance date of 5 years from the date of a final rule published in the Federal Register.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for a review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney. It is the customer’s responsibility to determine whether its filled product is subject to any applicable government regulations and to ensure compliance with such regulations.