FDA Delays When a Final Rule on What Foods Can Be Labeled As ‘Healthy’ Goes Into Effect

The US Food and Drug Administration’s new standards for foods before they can be labeled as “healthy” on their packaging will go into effect about two months later than planned, according to a government document scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

In December, the FDA finalized a rule that updates the nutritional requirements a human food item must meet to claim on its packaging that it is “healthy.” That rule was published with an effective date of February 25, 2025.

But in January, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum entitled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,” which puts a freeze on new rules until a department or agency head appointed or designated by the president reviews and approves the rule, as well as ordering agencies to postpone the effective date for any rules that may have been published in the Federal Register but have not taken effect, for the purpose of review.

“In accordance with this direction, FDA is delaying the effective date of the final rule ‘Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term “Healthy”’ (89 FR 106064), until April 28, 2025. We note that the compliance date remains unchanged at this time,” according to the document.

The use of “healthy” labeling is voluntary for food manufacturers. Foods that meet the new requirements can start using the label once the rule is effective, while those that don’t meet the standards of the new rule still have until 2028 or three years to conform.