WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a guidance document that updates how the agency defines the nutrient content claim “healthy.” The guidance was issued in response to the agency’s effort to make it consistent with the FDA Nutrition Facts Panel final rule that was finalized this past May.
“In particular, we intend to exercise enforcement discretion with respect to the current requirement that any food bearing the nutrient content claim ‘healthy’ meet the low fat requirement provided that … the amounts of mono- and polyunsaturated fats are declared on the label and … the amounts declared constitute the majority of the fat content,” the FDA said.
In addition, the agency said it intends to enforce the current requirement that any food labeled healthy contain at least 10 percent of the daily value (DV) per recommended amount customarily consumed (RACC) of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein or fiber, if the food instead contains at least 10 percent of the DV per RACC of potassium or vitamin D.
The declaration of potassium and vitamin D content was added to the updated Nutrition Facts Panel final rule that was published May 20 in the Federal Register. The declaration of vitamin A and vitamin C content will no longer be required.
The FDA added that the guidance is a temporary enforcement policy while the agency updates its regulations to make it consistent with the Nutrition Facts Panel final rule.
