Low-fat cottage cheese. Flavored yogurt. Part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks. Reduced fat and whole milk. Americans have been turning to these products for generations as delicious and nutritious components of their well-balanced diets. Yet, under a new proposal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), none of these healthy dairy products can bear a “healthy” claim on their label.
At the time of the proposed rule’s release, the agency highlighted the fact that more than 80% of Americans are not eating enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Therefore, the intention with the proposed healthy rule was to align the use of the labeling claim with food categories recommended in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). For the first time, the proposed healthy claim contains criteria specific to dairy products. To bear a “healthy” claim, a dairy product must contain the equivalent of at least a ¾ cup serving of dairy — a positive step toward encouraging consumption of dairy products. These are worthwhile goals that the dairy industry stands ready to support — when done correctly.