On September 28, 2022, the FDA issued a proposal to update the “healthy” definition. The aim of the proposal is to be consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance, especially the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), regarding how consumers can maintain healthy dietary practices. The “healthy” claim can help empower consumers, including those with less nutritional knowledge, with the skills to identify foods that can help build healthy eating patterns.
Related to juice the Dietary Guidelines specifically state that one cup of 100% juice is nutritionally equivalent to one cup of a fruit or vegetable and along with fresh, frozen, canned and dried, 100% juice is considered part of the fruit and vegetable group. Furthermore, juice is called out along with water and fat-free/low fat milk as a beverage to consume in a healthy dietary pattern. For these reasons 100% juice, without added sugars, can qualify for the “healthy” claim in the proposal.
The comment period has been extended to February 16, 2023.
For more information on this proposed rule, please visit: https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-proposes-update-definition-healthy-claim-food-labels
