Food labels must be in compliance with the new rules by February 25, 2028.

Foods that wish to be labeled as "healthy" must soon meet new federal requirements, including limits on saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule (PDF) on December 19 that updates the definition of the nutrient content claim "healthy." The agency indicates the new requirements will bring labels more in line with current nutrition science.

The FDA warns there is a crisis in the U.S. of preventable diet-related chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Updating the term "healthy" on food packaging can help consumers make better decisions about what they eat and possibly prevent some chronic diseases, according to an FDA press release announcing the changes.

Diet-related health problems like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of disability and disease in the United States, which has the lowest life expectancy among high-income countries. Many believe this is due to the poor quality of food in the country.

More than 75% of Americans exceed the current dietary recommendation for saturated fat and nearly 80% of people have a diet low in fruit and vegetables. Moreover, 63% of Americans exceed daily intake for recommended amounts of added sugar and more than 90% of people exceed the daily recommended limits for sodium.