FDA to redefine 'healthy' for food labeling, no longer include Honey Nut Cheerios, Special K Original

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday it is proposing changes to its definition of "healthy." The new definition would disqualify many popular breakfast cereals such as Honey Nut Cheerios, Special K Original Cereal and Raisin Bran.

Boxes of Kellogg Co. Special K, Raisin Bran and Frosted Mini Wheats brand breakfast cereals are arranged. (Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The proposed changes, the FDA says, will help people improve their nutrition and dietary patterns and "reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity."

FDA’s original definition of "healthy"’ has not changed since it was established in 1994. Under the current definition, a food may bear a "healthy" claim if it contains at least 10% of the FDA-recognized Daily Value (DV) for the nutrients calcium and iron, vitamins A and C, protein, fiber and contain no more than the specified limits for total and saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.

In contrast, the FDA’s new definition of "healthy" focuses on the food groups associated with healthy dietary patterns, the type of fat rather than the total quantity and the levels of sodium and added sugars. 

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Kellogg's Corn Flakes packaging are seen in a store in Poland on April 19, 2022.  (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

For example, a cereal would need to contain three-quarters of an ounce of whole grains and no more than 1 gram (g) of saturated fat, no more than 230 mg of sodium, and no more than 2.5 g of added sugars to be labeled "healthy." 

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Many popular breakfast cereals that some consider nutritious would no longer qualify for the "healthy" claim, based on the FDA’s proposed definition. 

This includes products such as:

• Honey Nut Cheerios (12 grams of added sugars)
• Raisin Bran (9 grams of added sugars)
• Corn Flakes (4 grams of added sugars, 300 milligrams of sodium)
• Life Cereal Original (8 grams of added sugars)
• Special K Original Cereal (4 grams of added sugars, 270 milligrams of sodium)

Boxes of General Mills' Honey Nut Cheerios are displayed at Scotty's Market on September 20, 2017 in San Rafael, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

According to the FDA, the proposed changes "would align the definition of the ‘healthy’ claim with current nutrition science."

The FDA said in a news release that more than 80% of Americans are not eating enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy. However, most people are having too much added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. 

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"Nutrition is key to improving our nation’s health," said Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in the press release. "Healthy food can lower our risk for chronic disease. But too many people may not know what constitutes healthy food. FDA’s move will help educate more Americans to improve health outcomes, tackle health disparities, and save lives."