BY SARAH BUSDON
Which of the following foods can qualify for the word “healthy” on their packaging: a sugary, fortified cereal or a package of almonds? If you selected almonds, you’re wrong.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), foods labeled as “healthy” must be low in fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol, and contain beneficial nutrients like vitamin C or calcium. In addition, snack items can’t have more than 3 grams of fat per serving. Most nuts contain more than this amount.
In 1994, when the USFDA defined “healthy,” many healthcare professionals promoted low-fat foods, and sugar content wasn’t considered. While recent nutrition research has proven the benefits of consuming healthy fats, getting the FDA regulations to change occurs very slowly.
Changing the definition of “healthy” requires the USFDA to first propose updating the definition of “healthy.” This is followed by a comment period during which food makers and the public can submit their ideas and suggestions on what the definition of “healthy” should be.
Look at the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list to determine if foods labeled as “healthy” are truly healthy.
Sarah Busdon is an administrative assistant with University of Idaho’s Blaine County Extension office. For more information, visit extension.uidaho.edu/blaine or call (208) 788-5585.
Sources:
Wall Street Journal (tinyurl.com/tws-healthy)
FDA (tinyurl.com/tws-fda)