The Food and Drug Administration is asking for public input on how the agency should define the word "healthy," reports STAT.
The quest to better define the word arose in 2015, when the FDA ruled Kind bars — granola bars containing fruit, nuts, chocolate and other mix-ins — could not contain the word "healthy" on their wrappers. After the Kind company filed a petition taking issues with FDA's standards for considering fat content in a food, the agency conceded and let the company keep the word on the label.
The situation demonstrated the need for a concrete definition of the word "healthy." The agency issued a request for public comment on the matter and received more than 870 responses from individuals and lobby groups regarding the definition.
Many public comments support healthy fats — like the nuts in Kind bars — and say these kinds of foods still contain health benefits for consumers.
On Thursday, the FDA will hold a public meeting to further discuss the issue.
More articles on supply chain:
ACA replacement plan would nix medical device tax: 4 things to know
How beneficial are drug price transparency measures? 5 thoughts
Trump 'enthusiastic' about Dem's drug cost proposal: 4 things to know