The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule which would redefine what can be branded as “healthy” — and large food manufacturers aren’t happy about it.
The proposed rule would limit the ability of companies to label their food products “healthy” providing new parameters for what that would mean. Manufacturers could only label their food as “healthy” if the product contains a “meaningful amount of food from at least one of the main food groups such as fruit, vegetable or dairy,” and meets criteria for added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and other nutrient requirements.
For example, the rule would require no more than 2.5 grams of sugar per serving to be considered “healthy.” This would exclude over 95% of cereal brands, which have now banded together to lobby against the new rule. In fact, multiple processed food manufacturers have stated their intention to fight back — because they would rather spend time, energy, and capital getting the rule thrown out than simply removing the unnecessary sugar in their products. Of course, there is the third option for manufacturers, which could label their products honestly — but that would never happen.
General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Post Consumer Brands have created a joint filing recommending that the FDA include other criteria which recognize protein, vitamins, fiber, and other nutrients that are considered necessary to a healthy diet. The filing also hints at possible legal action that could be taken on behalf of the food brands if the rule were to be passed as written, claiming that aspects of the First Amendment would be violated.
“The proposed rule, if finalized in its present form, would be open to legal challenge in that it violates the First Amendment by prohibiting truthful, non-misleading labeling claim in an unjustified manner and also exceeds FDA’s statutory authority in several ways.”
Largest Cereal Manufacturers in the U.S. — Joint Filing
The companies also stated that they view the guidelines as “alarming” because “cereal is one of the most affordable, nutrient-dense breakfast choices a person — adult or child — can make … with a wide range of options to suit different cultures, preferences, and taste.” The cereal companies claim they are already recognized for “nutritional benefits,” given their inclusion in federal programs that “serve the nation’s vulnerable populations.”
Given that obesity, heart disease, and cancer are three of the leading health conditions affecting Americans today, I can understand the FDA’s eagerness to impose new rules about branding. That being said, is the classification of “healthy” the best way to go about creating a healthier population? Would it be more worthwhile to force brands to be transparent about what is in their products, and what chemicals, dyes, or ingredients are linked to cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, rather than limiting what they can claim about their own food?
Let us know what you think in the comments!
