The FDA is moving full steam ahead with plans to help Americans eat healthier. "I feel strongly that FDA can do more to assist the American public with creating healthier diets for themselves and their families," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a speech yesterday. What to watch for:
- A salty update: Gottlieb says next year the FDA will update its voluntary targets for reducing sodium levels in a slew of foods, from frozen pizza to canned goods.
- A new dictionary entry: Gottlieb also doubled down on the agency’s plans to define what “healthy” means when it’s tacked on a food label. In 2016, FDA asked the public to weigh in on the question and more than 870 people did — including a grammarian who urged the FDA to ask people to eat healthfully, instead of healthy.
- Food packaging plans: The agency is also considering how to display the idea that a food is "healthy" on packaging, so it's easy for consumers to spot. The FDA is also moving ahead with some Obama-era plans, including an update to nutrition labels.