The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new regulations around which foods can have the label "healthy."
The administration wants to raise "healthy" standards by setting stricter limits on fats, cholesterol, sodium and sugar.
But, food companies are pushing back, saying the new standards are unattainable, and some have even threatened to sue.
Nicholas Florko, a reporter with STAT News, said on Greater Boston that if the FDA guidelines are indeed finalized, "this is definitely going to end up in a courtroom."
"It's really a question of whether the FDA's restrictions are so stringent that it's preventing companies from being able to say a food is healthy when you can make an argument when in fact it is," Florko said.
Florko noted that brands such as HealthyChoice would have a significant issue if their products don't meet the standards, considering the brand is staked upon its food being healthy.
The FDA guidelines have not yet been finalized, and the administration is currently in the process of receiving feedback from consumers and industry.
Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian, said the FDA has good intentions. "I feel that the FDA is trying to tackle all of these health issues that we have in the United States, I don't think they're coming from a bad place," she said.
Watch: What makes a food ‘healthy’? FDA proposes stricter standards
