Why “Healthy” Foods Can Make Some People Sick
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is trying to figure out how to define “healthy” and how to label it on food packaging (Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling | FDA) and they want your input (by July 6th 2021)
At first glance this may sound like a “Captain Obvious” moment, we all know what “healthy” means, right? But is it really …. obvious I mean? Is it about a number of calories? An amount of fat/sugar/sodium? How do we quantify or qualify what “healthy” means?
I started to think of some examples of foods that may be “healthy” for some but not for others.
Immediately I thought about any food that people could be allergic to…
Red meat may be a good idea if you’re trying to get protein and iron…but not so good if you have the alpha gal allergy to meat. Alpha-gal Allergy | Ticks | CDC). Also, how about individuals who are born with the rare genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU), who must monitor their protein intake for their whole lives? Phenylketonuria (PKU) — Symptoms and causes — Mayo Clinic
Whole wheat cereals and breads provide vitamins, minerals and fiber but if you have celiac disease ( an auto-immune disease) or a wheat allergy they need to be strictly avoided.
What about individuals with specific diseases or disorders that may be on special diets?
I love fruit salad for the flavors and fiber …but if I had a child with a seizure disorder who had to follow a ketogenic diet (low in carbohydrates and high in fat) that wouldn’t be a good choice to serve.
What about food or a beverage that might not get the “healthy” badge because they’re high in calories or sugars?
A 240 calorie milkshake may not be a good choice for someone with diabetes or that is trying to watch their carbohydrate or calorie intake…but what about a person who has lost weight while going through cancer treatment, has had significant taste changes and needs the calories?
If you have an egg protein allergy or are following a vegan diet aquafaba from chickpeas can be a good substitute …but for someone with irritable bowel, following a low FODMAP diet it may cause intestinal distress.
So, maybe identifying “healthy” foods isn’t quite as obvious, simple or as easy as we think. If you have some ideas and opinions on this please make sure you share them with the FDA by July 6th: Federal Register :: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Quantitative Research on a Voluntary Symbol Depicting the Nutrient Content Claim “Healthy” on Packaged Foods (comment here: Regulations.gov Docket ID
FDA-2021-N-0336 )
What’s healthy for you may not be healthy for me.