December 22, 2024 CFSI Staff

Seafood automatically qualifies for the “Healthy” claim under FDA’s final rule for the definition of “Healthy”

The FDA released an updated rule on December 19, 2024, revising the definition of the “healthy” nutrient content claim, which was originally set in 1994. This update, praised by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, automatically qualifies seafood (without added ingredients except water) as “healthy” due to its nutritional profile and alignment with Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Higher-fat fish, like salmon, now qualify for the claim.

To use the “healthy” claim, products must:

  1. Include specific Food Group Equivalents (FGE) from certain food groups (e.g., fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, or protein foods).
  2. Meet limits for sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.

Key dates for compliance:

  • February 25, 2025: Companies can begin using the updated claim.
  • February 25, 2028: Compliance with the new standards becomes mandatory.

The rule does not yet include a front-of-pack icon for the “healthy” claim, as its development is ongoing.

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