Help Redefine Healthy

From fad diet to fad diet, people around the world are trying to be "healthier." From Weight Watchers to Atkins and everything in-between, the consumer buys in to the hopes of a healthier lifestyle and maybe a pair of jeans that fits a little better. Each diet plan has a different set of rules and beliefs. Should we just eat less of the same things? No meat? No fat? Only fat? It is an endless cycle of conflicting information and we still don't exactly understand what the term “healthy” means?

According to the FDA's current regulatory standards, a pop-tart is healthier than an almond. When the term "healthy" was defined in 1994, low fat content was many health professionals main focus. A snack couldn't have more than 3 grams of fat, technically allowing Kellogg Co. to market Pop Tarts as healthy because they were low in fat and high in fortified vitamins. Consumers are living in a situation where sugary cereals are “healthier” than a handful of almonds or a serving of salmon. Since the 1990s standard was created, public health recommendations for various nutrients have changed.

Congress has urged the FDA to redefine healthy, and on September 27th, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has started a public process to redefine the “healthy” nutrient content claim for food labeling. This is part of an overall plan to provide consumers with tools to enable them to make better informed food choices consistent with public health recommendations. The modernized definition of "healthy" will also likely address sugar content. The FDA is taking into account newer evidence linking excessive sugar intake to heart disease and obesity. While the FDA is considering how to redefine the term as a nutrient content claim, food manufacturers are able to continue to use the term on foods that meet the current regulatory definition.

Policymakers are requesting input from food makers, health experts and you, the public.

This week’s challenge for our readers is telling us what the word healthy means to you. Tweet us @foodjusticesd and use the hashtag #redefinehealthy to tell us how you feel. Or submit your own definition directly to the FDA.

Check back to learn more about Ugly Produce on our next "The Weekly Catch."