On Dec. 19, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had updated the definition of “healthy Foods” on packaging for the first time in thirty years to help consumers build nutritious diets.

More than 80% of people in the U.S. aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit, dairy, and seafood, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. And most people consume too much saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. These dietary patterns can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and overweight and obesity.

To be consistent with the latest nutrition science and federal dietary guidelines the updated definition of “healthy” requires that a food must contain a certain amount of a food group like fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, or dairy, and a food can’t contain too much saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars. Placing a “healthy” claim on a food package is voluntary. If manufacturers choose to do it, their products must have the nutrient content required by the “healthy” definition. Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim can use the new criteria starting on February 25, 2025.