From the National Peanut Board:
Sept. 29, 2016 – ATLANTA – The Food and Drug Administration is now allowing peanuts to be called “healthy.” FDA announced on Wednesday that they are beginning the public process to redefine the “healthy” nutrient content claim for food labeling. In the interim, FDA has issued guidelines that allows industry to refer to peanuts as healthy, due to their high levels of unsaturated fat and overall beneficial nutrient profile. Peanuts contain 12 grams of unsaturated fat and two grams of saturated fat per one ounce serving.
“It’s exciting to be able to clearly tell the public that peanuts are indeed a healthy food that they should enjoy as part of their healthy lifestyle,” said National Peanut Board registered dietitian Sherry Coleman Collins.
“In the 1980’s we were convinced that only low-fat choices were healthy choices. Now we know that food and nutrition are more complex than that, and our marketing efforts can also align with what consumers need to hear to make better choices. Peanuts are the total package of protein, good fats, and more than two dozen vitamins and phytonutrients, making them indeed healthy,” said Collins.
The comment period for the Request for Information and Comments for the use of the term “healthy” in the labeling of human food products is open until January 26, 2017.