It’s official: coffee is healthy

Image credit: AdobeStock/Tiero
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) redefinition of “healthy”, which was released on 19 Thursday, for the first time specifies that coffee is automatically eligible to be labelled as healthy, in alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that calorie-free beverages including coffee are preferred in healthy dietary patterns.
The new “healthy” definition applies to coffee with fewer than five calories per 12 ounces (known as the “reference amount customarily consumed”) and per serving. According to data in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database, the calorie content of 12 ounces of brewed coffee is 3.55 calories.
The revised definition of “healthy” aims to provide consumers with more comprehensive and current nutritional information, aligning with the FDA’s and broader government efforts to address nutritional health. To be officially labelled “healthy” products must now include specific amounts from one or more food groups recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These groups include fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, and grains. Additionally, products must adhere to set limits for saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
The updated label is designed to guide consumers towards foods that form the basis of a healthy diet.
Coffee plays a significant role in Americans’ diets. More than two in three American adults had coffee in the past day (more than any other beverage including tap or bottled water) – the highest past-day coffee consumption in more than 20 years.
National Coffee Association (NCA) president and CEO William “Bill” Murray applauded FDA’s affirmation of coffee’s status as a healthy, calorie-free beverage. “As Americans enjoy the holiday season, FDA’s definition of coffee as healthy is all the more reason to celebrate the country’s favourite beverage. Decades of robust, independent scientific evidence show that coffee drinkers live longer, healthier, happier lives, and FDA is absolutely right that including coffee in the definition of “healthy” can help consumers choose beverages that help maintain healthy diets.”
The FDA’s final rule on the definition of health is available here.
The agency also announced that it has partnered with Instacart, creating online filters and a virtual storefront to help consumers easily find these products. Additionally, the FDA is developing a new symbol to visually indicate qualifying foods.
Further information on the scientific evidence about coffee and health is available on the NCA website and can be accessed here.