Kind asks FDA to reconsider what ‘healthy’ means
Almond snack bar maker Kind has asked the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to update its nutrition guidelines since the government agency considers foods like avocadoes, salmon, and nuts unhealthy because of their high fat content.
The move comes after the FDA sent Kind a letter earlier this year that said the brand was violating labeling regulations by putting the word ‘healthy’ on some of its snack bars that do not in fact meet health standards.
According to the FDA, brands can only use the word ‘healthy’ on foods that contain three grams of fat or one gram of saturated fat per serving. Yet many of Kind’s bars don’t meet these standards. For example, its Almond & Apricot bar includes 10 grams of fat and 3.5 grams of saturated fat.
In its Citizen Petition filing, Kind argued that these regulations should be updated since evidence shows that there are nutritional benefits to consuming foods high in unsaturated fat.
The company said it is receiving support from leading nutrition, public health and public policy experts.