(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
AND TALKING of sugar and foods in our previous column, there are now new requirements, in the United States anyway, before American manufacturers can claim their food product as “healthy”.
Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to conform but can use the new criteria sooner. Manufacturers can voluntarily use the claim on a food package if the product meets the updated criteria.
The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) updated criteria for the “healthy” claim are aligned with current nutrition science, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the updated Nutrition Facts label, which requires the declaration of added sugars.
To bear the “healthy” claim, a food product sold in America needs to:
Contain a certain amount of food (food group equivalent) from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines.
Adhere to specified limits for the following nutrients: saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
As an example, to include the “healthy” claim on the package, a cereal needs to contain a certain amount of whole grains and adhere to limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
Nuts and seeds, higher fat fish, such as salmon, certain oils, and water are examples of foods that did not qualify for the “healthy” claim before are now qualify to bear the “healthy” claim.
Many foods that fit into a range of budgets such as some peanut butters and canned fruits and vegetables also qualify.
Under the updated ”healthy” claim, nutrient-dense foods that are encouraged by the Dietary Guidelines – vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy, lean game meat, seafood, eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds – with no added ingredients except for water, automatically qualify for the “healthy” claim because of their nutrient profile and positive contribution to an overall healthy diet.
Foods such as water, avocados, nuts and seeds, higher fat fish, such as salmon, and olive oil will now qualify to use the “healthy” claim. These include many varieties of these foods that fit into a range of budgets, for example, fruits, vegetables, and fish that are either fresh, frozen or canned.
The “healthy” claim can empower consumers by providing a quick signal on food package labels to help consumers identify foods for building healthy dietary patterns, the US FDA said, pointing out the claim could be especially helpful for those who may be less familiar with nutritional information.
The move is designed to make food a vehicle for health and wellness, reduce diet-related chronic diseases, and promote health equity, it said. These include front-of-package nutrition labeling and sodium reduction.
Diet-related chronic diseases in the US are the leading causes of death and disability. Healthy eating patterns, which include foods like fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy, and whole grains, are associated with improved health, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancers, and being overweight or obese.
According to the US FDA, 75 percent of Americans have dietary patterns low in vegetables, fruits, and dairy; 63 percent exceed the limit for added sugars; 77 percent exceed the limit for saturated fat; 90 percent exceed the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction limits for sodium.
Providing informative and accessible food labeling empowers consumers and may help foster a healthier food supply for all if some manufacturers voluntarily reformulate food products to meet the updated criteria, the US FDA said.
On a separate but related track, the FDA is also continuing to explore development of a symbol that manufacturers could use on food labeling to show that a product meets the criteria for the “healthy” claim.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
