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September 28, 2005
FDA is amending its regulations concerning the maximum sodium levels permitted for foods that bear the implied nutrient content claim "healthy." The agency is retaining the currently effective, less restrictive sodium level requirements for all food categories, including individual foods (480 milligrams (mg)) and meals and main dishes (600 mg) and is dropping the more restrictive sodium level requirements for all food categories. The Federal Register Notice annoucing the final rule is available for online viewing.
After reviewing the comments and evaluating the data from various sources, FDA was convinced that retaining the higher, less restrictive sodium level requirements for all food products bearing the term "healthy" would encourage the manufacture of a greater number of products that are consistent with dietary guidelines for a variety of nutrients.
FDA has also revised the regulatory text of the "healthy" regulation to clarify the scope and meaning of the regulation and to reformat the nutrient content requirements for "healthy" into a more readable set of tables, and consistent with the requirement that regulations be written in plain language.
