The majority of Americans are not getting enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in their diet, and are consuming an unhealthy amount of sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned about the associations between these substances and the rise in diet-related conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

In response, the FDA proposed new labeling guidelines to help consumers find healthier food items. Learn more about their proposal and how the FDA and National Kidney Foundation (NKF) are working together to improve nutrition for all.* 

What are the changes proposed?

Currently, there are no restrictions to using the word “healthy” on a food product, so it can—and often is—used in ultra-processed foods and foods with added sugar. If the FDA’s proposal is passed, food manufacturers will be unable to label a product “healthy” without it meeting certain guidelines first. This will require manufacturers to use more whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, and reduce the number of empty calories from sugar and bad fats.

How else is the FDA working to improve Americans’ nutrition?

The FDA understands that eating healthily can be complicated. It’s working on making it easier for consumers to find the right food products for their health. Some steps they are taking include:

• Developing a more informative front-of-package label 
• Making finding nutrition information while grocery shopping online more convenient
• Teaming up with manufacturers to lower sodium content in their products
• Working with local communities to see how the federal government can aid in lowering added sugar consumption
• Advise parents and caregivers about new recommendations

What is the NKF asking of the FDA? 

As advocates for kidney care, the NKF is requesting changes from the administration to help improve nutrition for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, which include:

• Extending coverage of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) by registered dietitians to prediabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and other conditions for Medicare patients. 
• Mandating the reportage of phosphorus amounts on food labels.
• Granting more access to medically-tailored meals and fresh produce prescriptions from healthcare providers. 
• Greater attention to improving maternal nutrition, to prevent fetal abnormalities.
• Collaborating with community-based organizations to more efficiently address food insecurity. 

The NKF is working to advocate on behalf of all CKD patients and is always open to more support. They invite you to share how nutrition has affected your kidney journey with our national leaders. 

*FDA Proposes New Definition of “Healthy”: What This Means for People. (2022, November 15). National Kidney Foundation. https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/fda-proposes-new-definition-healthy-what-means-people-kidney-disease