U.S. Outlines Plans for More Health Claims on Food

Monday, July 21st 2003

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U.S. regulators unveiled guidelines on Thursday that will allow food product labels to carry government-approved claims about health benefits, even if they have not been conclusively proven.

A consumer group immediately attacked the move as "the biggest rollback in food-labeling standards in 20 years."

The effort aims to get more health information to consumers quickly so they can improve eating habits, and to encourage manufacturers to make healthier products, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan said.

"This new initiative will better protect consumers from making uninformed or misinformed choices about their diet," Dr. McClellan told reporters.

But the Center for Science in the Public Interest said in a statement: "Consumers don't want the federal government to authorize 'wishy-washy' health advice by food companies."

In the past, the FDA banned food producers from making health claims about products unless it decided they had been conclusively proven.

Under the new rules, first outlined in December, language for "qualified" claims will vary depending on how much scientific support stands behind them. A panel of experts will evaluate proposed claims. The FDA will start reviewing petitions after September 1st.

The FDA said it would consider claims in four categories with grades of A, B, C or D. An A means there is "significant scientific agreement" on the claim, while D means there is "little scientific evidence supporting this claim."

Dr. McClellan said he did not expect many companies would want to make claims in the C or D category, the ones with the weakest evidence. "I think you're going to have to do a lot better than a C to attract consumers," he said.

The FDA will focus first on certain types of claims, including ones that suggest eating omega-3 fatty acids that are found in some fish, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Food manufacturers have pushed for years for more ability to advertise health benefits. The FDA's plan was encouraging, National Food Processors Association spokesman Timothy Willard said.

"It's very appropriate that FDA is seeking to help increase consumer access to science-based information on the health benefits of foods," Willard said.

The Consumer Federation of America, which criticized the idea in the past, "tentatively" endorsed the plan.

By Lisa Richwine

 

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