Nobody puts Kind Bars in a corner.
The granola bar maker filed a petition on Tuesday asking the Food & Drug Administration to redefine the term “healthy” to better meet current scientific and medical standards.
The petition comes after Kind received a letter from the FDA in April, telling Kind to stop using “healthy” on its labels.
Intially, Kind worked to ensure that the labeling of four of its bars was adjusted to meet the FDA’s standards. The flavors included: Almond & Apricot, Almond & Coconut, Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate + Protein, and Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants.
But after more than six months of research, the company took a harder tack.
“[W]e learned that the regulations needed to be updated as they are inconsistent with the dietary guidelines and current nutrition science,” founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky told CNNMoney.
In its Tuesday petition, Kind “respectfully” asked the FDA to adjust its outdated definition of the label “healthy” to include nutrient-rich foods. Current FDA guidelines were introduced roughly 20 years ago.
Kind Bars contain various types of nuts. Kind argues that nuts, along with other foods that have high levels of unsaturated fat like salmon and avocados, are part of a healthy diet.
Several experts agree and have signed Kind’s petition and written letters of support.
