The USA updates healthy food criteria: what will change for consumers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to update the rules for labeling 'healthy' foods after 30 years. This decision was made due to the worsening crisis related to chronic diseases caused by poor nutrition, which requires immediate action.

The updated approach removes white bread from the list of 'healthy' products and includes nutritious eggs, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.

The new rules take into account the presence of a significant number of recommended food groups, such as vegetables, proteins, dairy products, or grains, as well as restrictions on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar content.

The changes concern the approach to fats. Instead of a general reduction in fats, the focus is on lowering the intake of saturated fats. Now avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, eggs, and olive oil will be considered 'healthy' foods.

The changes also affect products with high added sugar content, such as candy bars, fruit snacks, fortified breakfasts, and yogurts with sweeteners, which can no longer be labeled as 'healthy.'

The main goal of these changes is to combat diet-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. These diseases are leading causes of disability and mortality in the USA, particularly among various population groups.

Statistics show that many Americans exceed the recommended limits for saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium. At the same Time, the majority of the population does not consume enough dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.

To make it easier for consumers to choose, a new symbol has been developed that will indicate whether a product meets the new rules. This sign will serve as a 'quick signal' for people who are unaware of a product's composition and help highlight those products that will help form a healthy diet. However, details of the implementation of this sign are not yet known.

It is worth noting that sugar is not a necessary product for a healthy person. It may be necessary for medical purposes or for people engaging in heavy physical labor. This was stated by endocrinologist Bohdana Murashova in an interview with 'Glavkom.'