Doctors Group Warns FDA That Labeling Saturated-Fat-Laden Meat, Dairy as “Healthy” Poses Significant Health Risks

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A physicians group is warning the Food and Drug Administration that its proposed rule to allow meat and dairy products high in saturated fat to be labeled as “healthy,” a highly-coveted food industry marketing term, puts Americans at risk for heart disease, cancer, and other significant health risks. The Physicians Committee is a nonprofit of more than 17,000 doctors.

In a complaint submitted today to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD, the group says, “The proposed rule should not be making special accommodations for the sale and marketing of harmful foods such as eggs, dairy, and meat as 'healthy.' Besides being the predominate sources of saturated fat in American’s diets, the consumption of these foods poses other significant health risks.”

In the proposed rule, titled “Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term ‘Healthy,’” the FDA is suggesting special accommodations to the allowable percentage of daily value (DV) per reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) of saturated fat for eggs, dairy, and meat products at levels higher than other foods.

Acknowledging the need to limit saturated fat in Americans’ diet, the proposed rule recommends a baseline limit of 5% of the DV per RACC for most foods. However, the proposed rule suggests doubling the allowable level of saturated fat to allow eggs, game meat, and seafood to be labeled has “healthy” compared to plant-based proteins sources like beans, peas, and soy products.

Additionally, the proposed rule, in a blatant and apparent concession to allow eggs to be marketed as “healthy,” completely ignores the dangers of cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol, along with saturated fat, causes blood cholesterol levels to steadily increase leading to adverse health.

“Limiting saturated fat and cholesterol should be paramount for the 'healthy' label,” says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDE, nutrition education program manager for the Physicians Committee. “Truly healthy foods, like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, are low or in saturated fat and cholesterol and have been shown to help prevent and reverse heart disease, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer.”

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through Feb. 16, 2023.