Nutrition Policy Alert: Seafood automatically qualifies for the “Healthy” claim under FDA’s final rule for the definition of “Healthy”

On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the final rule updating the definition of the voluntary, implied nutrient content claim “healthy,” originally established in 1994. It is summarized in this constituent update and a high-level summary of the final rule and what was updated is available here on FDA’s website. 

“We applaud the FDA for recognizing seafood’s role in the diet as ‘healthy'” said Linda Cornish, founder and president of Seafood Nutrition Partnership. “All seafood, including fatty fish such as salmon, automatically qualifies for the ‘healthy’ claim because of its nutrient profile and positive contribution to an overall healthy diet.”

Under the final rule, the FDA notes that seafood without added ingredients except for water “automatically qualifies” for the “healthy” claim due to its positive nutrient contributions and foundation of healthy eating patterns, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“The updated ‘healthy’ claim is backed by nutritional science: consuming seafood at least twice a week is an important component of a well-balanced diet,” said Dr. Tom Brenna, SNP Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC) Chair. “The ability for the industry to communicate that seafood is a healthy choice will help consumers recognize the importance of eating seafood at least twice a week.”

Higher-fat fish, such as salmon, which did not previously qualify, can now use the “healthy” claim.

To qualify for the “healthy” claim a product needs to:

Contain a specific Food Group Equivalents (FGE) quantity from one or more food group(s) or subgroup(s), including fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy (fat-free and low-fat), and/or protein foods; and

Meet set % DV thresholds for the three dietary components of public health concern – sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.

Adoption and compliance dates for the voluntary claim are as follows:

February 25, 2025: Companies can begin to use the new standards for the voluntary “healthy” claim.

February 25, 2028: Any companies using the voluntary “healthy” claim must adhere to the new standards.

Please note that the final rule does not include the anticipated front-of-pack icon for use on products meeting the updated “healthy” definition. The FDA indicates that the development of this icon is still in progress.