The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently proposed updating the definition of “healthy” foods can use on their nutrition labels.
According to the FDA, more than 80% of Americans eat too many added sugars, saturated fats and sodium, and not enough fruits, vegetables and dairy.
“Nutrition is key to improving our nation’s health,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement announcing the proposal. “Healthy food can lower our risk for chronic disease. But too many people may not know what constitutes healthy food. FDA’s move will help educate more Americans to improve health outcomes, tackle health disparities and save lives.”
In order to label itself as “healthy,” a food product, among other things, would have to meet limits on saturated fats, added sugars and sodium. For breakfast cereal, CNBC determined, three-quarters of an ounce of whole grains could contain no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium and 2.5 grams of added sugars.
Based on these limits, seven popular cereals would no longer be able to put a “healthy” label on their boxes.
Raisin Bran : 9g of added sugars
Honey Nut Cheerios : 12g of added sugars
Corn Flakes : 300mg of sodium and 4g of added sugars
Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Roasted : 8g of added sugars
Frosted Mini Wheats : 12g of added sugars
Life : 8g of added sugars
Special K : 270mg of sodium and 4g of added sugars
“Healthy eating patterns are associated with improved health, yet most people’s eating patterns do not align with current dietary recommendations,” Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in the statement. “… (W)e continue to advance a number of FDA initiatives and explore new ways to coordinate, leverage and amplify important work going on across the nutrition ecosystem to help improve people’s diets and make a profound impact on the health of current and future generations.”
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