The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted KIND Snacks that it can once again use the term “healthy” on its labels, a reversal of the decision the FDA had made more than a year ago.
In March 2015, KIND was sent a warning letter requesting removal of the word “healthy” from the back panel of four KIND wrappers and its website because the snacks contained more than 3 g of total fat or 1 g of saturated fat per serving. KIND complied, but because nuts are a main ingredient in its bars, the company maintained that its usage wasn’t a nutrient content claim. The FDA agreed and will allow healthy back on KIND’s labels.
“Following receipt of the closeout letter, KIND requested confirmation that it could use the phrase ‘healthy and tasty’ only in text clearly presented as its corporate philosophy, where it isn’t represented as a nutrient content claim, and does not appear on the same display panel as nutrient content claims or nutrition information,” the FDA wrote in a constituent update. “In our discussions with KIND, we understood the company’s position as wanting to use ‘healthy and tasty’ as part of its corporate philosophy, as opposed to using 'healthy' in the context of a nutrient content claim. The FDA evaluates the label as a whole and has indicated that in this instance it does not object.”
According to KIND’s research, foods like avocados and nuts cannot be labeled as healthy, while low-fat chocolate pudding can. “The current regulatory definition of healthy is inconsistent with federal guidelines and scientific research, as today we know it’s advisable to prioritize eating whole foods, including nuts, plants, whole grains, and seafood,” says David L. Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, who has served as a nutrition adviser to KIND.
In December 2015, KIND filed a Citizen Petition asking the FDA to amend its requirements related to the term “healthy” to emphasize the importance of eating real foods and nutrient-dense ingredients. At this time, no amendments have been made.
