NEW YORK – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s long-awaited redefinition of “healthy” released Thursday for the first time specifies that coffee is automatically eligible to be labeled 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.
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 favorite 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.”
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.
FDA’s final rule on the definition of health is available here.
NCA’s exclusive research on U.S. coffee consumers’ habits and perceptions is available here, and further information on the scientific evidence about coffee and health is available here.
About the National Coffee Association
The National Coffee Association (NCA), established in 1911, is the United States’ oldest and largest trade organization representing coffee businesses of all types and sizes, including the producers, roasters, brands, and other businesses responsible for 90% of U.S. coffee commerce. More American adults drink coffee each day than any other beverage, and coffee supports 2.2 million U.S. jobs—operating in every U.S. state and territory and contributing nearly $350 billion to the U.S. economy every year.
