In December 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its final guidelines for what foods can be labeled as "healthy" in American grocery stores. The new rule, which is the FDA's first substantial update to healthy labeling requirements since 1994, sets stricter limits on added sugars—the 1994 rule had no limit on sugar (added or natural)—and sodium. It also removes caps on total fat (but not saturated fat).

With these limits in place, the FDA has deemed that foods such as salmon, avocados, olive oil, and water—yes, water—can now be branded "healthy" in grocery stores. (Breathe a sigh of relief, millennials and Gen Z. The government has said your avocado toast is healthy, so long as you use the right bread.)