Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced that it will be conducting research in conjunction with a new rule they plan to roll out. The FDA update is located here. This proposed rule would update the definition of “healthy” and create a symbol for the “healthy” nutrient content claim. These updates are a part of the FDA’s Nutrition Innovation Strategy (NIS), which is intended to reduce the burden of chronic diseases related to nutrition. Nutrition-based chronic diseases impact communities of color at disproportionately higher rates than other communities. Nutrient content claims serve as quick signals to consumers about the health benefits of the food or drink they choose. Updated claims and symbols will help consumers get a better understanding of nutrition information and can also encourage companies to reevaluate the nutritional value of their products. If you have an idea on how the FDA can enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information they’re collecting, submit a comment here.
