The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on February 26, 2025, that it will delay the effective date of its final rule defining the term “healthy” on food labels, pushing the date back from February to April 2025. The change was detailed in a notice published in the Federal Register.
The updated definition marks a pivotal shift in food labeling, aiming to prevent products with high added sugars from bearing the “healthy” label, while allowing foods rich in healthy fats—such as nuts, seeds, salmon, and olive oil—to proudly carry the designation. Previously, these healthy fat sources were excluded from using the term “healthy,” a discrepancy now addressed by the new rule.
The rule is part of a market-driven reform designed to provide consumers with accurate and helpful information about their food choices. According to Sarah Sorscher, Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the rule represents a much-needed improvement to food labeling practices.
Although the new timeline does not alter the compliance deadline for food manufacturers, the delay raises questions about the potential for further revisions to the rule. The announcement could indicate that FDA Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might be considering revisiting the regulation, a move that could delay the full implementation.
The “healthy” labeling rule would apply only to a small subset of food products that currently feature the “healthy” claim on their packaging. However, some experts argue that the Secretary could have a more significant impact by advancing the FDA’s proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling rule, which would require foods to display clear information about their levels of sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats.
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