New definition reinforces more than three decades
of health research supporting walnut consumption
FOLSOM,
Calif., Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Walnuts
meet the updated definition for a "healthy" food based on the
important role they play in recommended dietary patterns, according
to the much-anticipated announcement from the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) detailing a new definition for foods
that can be identified or labeled as "healthy."1
This announcement, originally previewed in 2022 on the heels of
the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and
Health, is a significant step toward ensuring food labeling is
consistent with the most up-to-date nutrition scientific evidence
and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations to
support individuals and families in building healthy eating
patterns.
"The inclusion of walnuts in the new "healthy" definition
affirms consumers' belief that walnuts are a healthy food.* It also
aligns with decades of nutrition research reinforcing the important
contributions walnuts can make in a healthy lifestyle," shared
Robert Verloop, chief executive
officer for the California Walnut Commission. "It's simple. Just
adding walnuts to Americans' daily diet can potentially have
wide-ranging positive impacts."
The 2020-2025 DGA encourage consumers to choose foods that are
nutrient-dense, such as nuts, including walnuts. However, close to
two-thirds of Americans do not meet the recommended intake for nuts
and seeds.2,3
Encouraging walnuts as a substitution for food choices higher in
saturated fat can help support recommendations to replace intake of
saturated with unsaturated fats. as strongly advised by the
recently-released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Scientific Report.4 The total fat in walnuts (18g) is
mostly comprised of polyunsaturated fats (13g/oz), including
omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz), an essential fatty acid with potential to
support heart health and cognition.5-7 Walnuts are the
only tree nut to provide an excellent source of omega-3
ALA.8
"In my 20 plus years of practicing nutrition at a major medical
institution, I have seen trends go in and out for what the public
considers healthy. But what has always been foundational is the
role plant-based foods like walnuts play in supporting health.
Walnuts are one nut I find consistently meets the variable needs of
patients in my practice," states Kristin
Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN and author. "In practice, I focus on
evidence-based approaches to reducing chronic disease risk, weight
management, and improvements in metabolic health."
Walnuts qualifying as a "healthy" food is just one major
milestone in a series of similar recognitions. A recent ruling,
earlier in 2024, by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS),
'Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the
2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,' will make it easier
for schools to serve plant-protein rich meals and snacks that
include walnuts. Using ingredients like walnuts can help
reformulate meal favorites to be healthier, while also supporting
vegetarian diets and other food preferences. Additionally,
for the first time, states are now allowed to include walnut butter
as part of the latest WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children) package
updates.
These new inclusions and acknowledgements of the role of walnuts
in healthy dietary patterns are due, in part, to the more than 30
years of evidence-based global health and nutrition research funded
by the California Walnut Commission. This growing body of research
has uncovered many potential benefits of consuming walnuts within
healthy dietary patterns across various ages and life stages to
maximize health and well-being, including promising research into
heart health, cognition, cancer, gut health, body weight, and
reproductive health.
Walnuts are extremely versatile and convenient, adding nutrition
to dishes at every meal, as well as simple snacks. For more
information about the nutritional benefits of California walnuts, along with delicious
recipe inspiration, please visit walnuts.org.
About the California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 4,600
California walnut growers and
nearly 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers' family
orchards. California walnuts,
known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are
shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the
walnuts grown in the United States
being from California. The CWC,
established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and
export market development activities as well as supports health
research with consuming walnuts.
To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry
information and health research, visit walnuts.org.
* California Walnut Board 2021 Consumer A&U
References
-
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29957/food-labeling-nutrient-content-claims-definition-of-term-healthy
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.
9th Edition. December 2020. Available
at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
- Analysis of What We Eat in America, NHANES 2013-2016, ages 1
and older, 2 days dietary intake data, weighted. Recommended Intake
Ranges: Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Patterns.
- 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2024. Scientific
Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory
Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary
of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Sala-Vila A, Fleming J, Kris-Etherton P, Ros E. Impact of
alpha-linolenic acid, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, on
cardiovascular disease and cognition [published ahead of print
February 16, 2022]. Advances in
Nutrition. doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac016.
- Naghshi S, Aune D, Beyene J, et al. Dietary intake and
biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause,
cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: Systematic review and
dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ.
2021;375:n2213. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2213.
- Barceló-Coblijn G, Murphy EJ. Alpha-linolenic acid and its
conversion to longer chain n3 fatty acids: Benefits for human
health and a role in maintaining tissue n-3 fatty acid levels.
Prog Lipid Res. 2009;48(6):355-74.
Doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2009.07.002.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service. FoodData Central, 2019. Fdc.nal.usda.gov.
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SOURCE California Walnut Commission
