FDA considering new regs on healthy labels
Tuesday, September 27th 2016
The Food and Drug Administration is considering new regulations for foods labeled “healthy” in light of changing scientific thinking about fats and the types of vitamins and minerals that consumers most need. As a first step, the agency is soliciting public input on a series of questions about what “healthy” should mean. In announcing plans to write new regulations for “healthy,” the agency also issued industry guidance saying that it would provide leeway to food companies in its current labeling regulations on content of fats as well as potassium or vitamin D. Under the guidance, foods that are not low in total fat should have a fat profile mostly made up of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Sources of those fats include safflower oil, peanut oil and corn oil. FDA also said it will allow foods to be called healthy if they contain at least 10 percent of the daily recommended consumption, or “daily value,” for potass
ium or vitamin D.