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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - The FDA recently proposed an updated definition of "healthy" to give Americans a better idea of what they should and should not be eating as part of their typical diet and reduce chronic disease.
According to the FDA, "The proposed rule would update the 'healthy' claim definition to better account for how all the nutrients in various food groups contribute and may work synergistically to create healthy dietary patterns and improve health."
This week, Congressman Bill Keating, the chair of the House Cranberry Caucus, led a bipartisan group of 28 House Members and Senators to urge the FDA to reconsider it's new proposed definition of "healthy" which ultimately cuts out the cranberry and tart cherry from what they consider healthy.
Right now, only dried fruits containing no added sugars makes the list under the FDA's proposed rule redefining "healthy." Cranberries and tart cherries both have low intrinsic sugar content, which means they typically need to be sweetened for most consumers and products.
As stated by the Members in the letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf:
“As currently written, the proposal will discourage the consumption of nutrient-rich cranberry and tart cherry products, undermining the purpose of the proposed rule…While the proposed rule recognizes exceptions for other unique products (e.g., eggs, shellfish), if the rule remains as proposed, dried cranberries and tart cherries will be unfairly disadvantaged in the marketplace. This would not only harm farmers who cultivate these fruits, but also American consumers who could be discouraged from consuming these nutrient-dense products.”
The comment period for the proposed rule ends in February of 2023.
In addition to Congressman Keating, the letter was signed by:
Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey,
Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary C. Peters,
Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson,
Utah Senators Mitt Romney and Michael S. Lee
Washington Congressman Derek Kilmer
Massachusetts House Members Stephen F. Lynch, James P. McGovern, Jake Auchincloss, Lori Trahan, Seth Moulton, Ayanna Pressley, Richard E. Neal, and Katherine M. Clark
Pennsylvania House Members Susan Wild and Brian Fitzpatrick
New Jersey House Members Andy Kim, Jefferson Van Drew, and Josh Gottheimer
Utah House Members Blake Moore, Burgess Owens, John R. Curtis, and Chris Stewart
Wisconsin House Member Mark Pocan and Tom Tiffany
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