The FDA has redefined what it means for a food product to be called "healthy." Here's what that means for you.

Iwas in my fourth year of practice as a food and beverage lawyer in 1994. That was the last time FDA defined what qualifies as a “healthy” food product. Now, over 30 years later (I'm in my 35th year of practice) FDA has finally updated that definition to make it consistent with modern scientific understanding and public health policy.

In April of 2025, FDA issued its final rule governing the use of the “healthy” claim on food labels. In order to qualify, the labels on these products are now required to:

Contain a meaningful amount of food from at least one of the recommended food groups (e.g., fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole grains, or protein).

Meet updated limits on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. For example, the sodium threshold for individual food items is now capped at 2