The Healthy Label

Abstract

The US Food and Drug Administration is considering an update of a front-of-pack voluntary “healthy” designation that received little use or attention by the food industry. Effective communication to consumers is crucial in promoting healthy diet and lifestyle patterns. In the current food landscape, it is difficult for consumers to determine what foods are healthy. Furthermore, the healthy definition should fit the current science based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We present an argument for required front-of-pack labeling, rooted squarely in the Dietary Guidelines.