(P05-002-25) Redefining Healthy: The Impact of FDA’s Updated Healthy Claim Criteria on Commercial Packaged Foods

Objectives: The FDA updated the "healthy" claim (FDA-H) for foods & beverages to better reflect current nutrition guidance. It emphasizes food groups and places new limits on added sugars, sodium and saturated fat. We wanted to assess the impact of these changes on commercial packaged foods.

Methods: Using a database of 255,401 commercial packaged foods, we determined which foods qualified for a claim of FDA-H under regulations in place prior to 2025.  Considering the new FDA-H regulations, for each food we determined the qualifying food group equivalents (e.g. vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein foods and whole grains, etc.) using WISEcode’s Ingredient Quantification algorithm (IQa™).  IQa™ uses a Bayesian statistical approach to estimate commercial food composition, leveraging the Nutrition Facts Panel and the ingredient list to quantify a food’s ingredients ( > 2% w/w) and nutrients based on listed serving. 4 outcomes were possible considering old and new FDA-H status: 1) remains FDA-H; 2) loses FDA-H; 3) gains FDA-H; 4) never was FDA-H.  Totals were calculated across all foods and 120 food categories.

Results: Preliminary analyses showed: 1) 7.1% remained FDA-H; 2) 9.6% lost FDA-H; 3) 6.8% gained FDA-H; 4) 76.5% never had FDA-H. Some categories had major shifts in FDA-H status. Nuts & Seeds (7,373 products) increased by 37%, with 55% of products meeting FDA-H.  In contrast, Spices & Seasonings (6,122 products) and Canned Vegetables (7,175 products) dropped 16% and 13% respectively, so only 1.5% and 7.2% of products, respectively, met FDA-H. Key drivers of reclassification varied by category.  Some were negatively impacted by changes to sodium or added sugar limits (e.g.< Soups, Dressings) while others were positively impacted by changes to total fat (Oils) or source of saturated fats and proteins (Nuts & Seeds).

Conclusions: The updated FDA-H criteria may reshape the “healthy food” product landscape, with significant implications for manufacturers and consumers. WISEcode’s IQa™ permits a detailed assessment of these shifts, highlighting possible product renovation and innovation opportunities, underscoring the importance of advanced data-driven tools for our food supply.

Funding Sources: WISEcode, LLC funded all