Max Teplitski of PMA on the “healthy” symbol; don't forget floral

No need to quibble; all fruits and vegetables should qualify for  “healthy” labeling. 

That was one point that was included in a comment to the Food and Drug Administration on the subject of a voluntary “healthy” symbol by Max Teplitski, chief science officer of the Produce Marketing Association.

Also of interest, Teplitski raises the notion of whether floral products could qualify as “healthy,” given their positive impact on mental health.

Here is the complete comment from PMA on the issue:

"The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) welcomes the opportunity to offer comments to FDA-2021-N-0336, a non-rulemaking docket, on collection of information for a study entitled “Quantitative Research on a Voluntary Symbol Depicting the Nutrient Content Claim “Healthy” on Packaged Foods.”

PMA is the leading trade association representing companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. PMA represents more than 2,600 member companies in over 50 countries around the world. Our members operate at every level in the supply chain from growing, shipping, processing, distribution, wholesaling, retail, and foodservice. In the U.S., it is estimated that PMA members handle more than 90% of fresh fruits and vegetables. PMA also represents the floral sector in mass retail, which accounts for the majority of floral sold in the U.S. PMA’s vision is to bring together the global fresh produce and floral community to grow a healthier world. PMA helps members grow by providing connections that expand business opportunities and increase sales and consumption. Regardless of size or scope of operations, our members are committed at every level to improving the health and well-being of consumers.
 

PMA strongly supports the categorical inclusion of all fresh fruits and vegetables as qualifying for “healthy” labeling. We recognize that the research on narrow health claims of specific fresh fruits and vegetables have been difficult to reproduce likely due to differences in crop genotypes, maturity stages, interactions with the human microbiome, etc. However, the research on the totality of health benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables is unequivocal. It is critical that the “healthy” claim is applied broadly to all fresh fruits and vegetables to continue to foster healthy eating habits for all Americans. 
 

Health professionals consistently recommend fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are nutrient-dense. The Dietary Guidelines describe the key nutrient contributions of fruits and vegetables: vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, iron, manganese, thiamin, niacin, and choline. Despite the nutrient-dense makeup of fruits and vegetables, with few exceptions, the U.S. population does not meet intake recommendations for any of the vegetable subgroups and average intake of fruits is below recommendations for almost all age-sex groups.
 

We also encourage further research on the health benefits of floral. There is intriguing peer-reviewed research indicating that flowers can improve indicators of mental health. We suggest that the definition of “healthy” be potentially expanded to include products, such as florals, that positively impact mental health, and more research in this area is critically needed."