(Reuters) – U.S. health agencies will delay by more than two months a decision on updating the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy” that manufacturers can voluntarily use on food packages.
The final rule is delayed until April 28 from February 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday, citing a freeze implemented on new rule proposals by President Donald Trump.
As the Trump administration overhauls federal agencies, employees at the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have been laid off in recent days.
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While it is not yet clear how many FDA employees have been affected, more than 1,100 people were laid off at the NIH.
Recently confirmed health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously called for removing ultra-processed foods from school lunches as part of a goal to reduce the incidence of diet-related chronic diseases.
The final rule updates the requirements for when the term “healthy” can be used and also establishes parameters for its use.
The temporary delay is necessary to give agency officials the opportunity for further review and consideration of the new regulation, according to the document.
The compliance date in the final rule is not until 2028, and that remains unchanged at this time, said the agencies.
The health regulator has also explored developing a symbol that manufacturers could use on food labeling to show that a product meets the criteria for the “healthy” claim.
The proposed rule was part of the FDA’s push to help people make informed nutritional choices and help lower the risk of chronic diseases.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
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