12/05/06

FDA Should Develop Consistent National Policy on Functional Food Claims to Protect Consumers, Says American Dietetic Association

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 5, 2006

Media contacts:  Doris Acosta, Tom Ryan    
800/877-1600, ext. 4822, 4894  
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO — The Food and Drug Administration should develop a “coherent and consistent national policy” on evaluating and labeling food products, or so-called “functional foods,” that contain added ingredients that manufacturers claim enhance their products’ health benefits, according to the American Dietetic Association.

ADA representatives testified at a public hearing Tuesday (December 5) at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, Md., on how the FDA should regulate such foods, which include energy drinks and other products. ADA defines functional foods as any food or ingredient, including dietary supplements, with a health claim. ADA has developed principles for food product labeling and has published official Association positions on “Functional Foods” and on “Fortification and Nutritional Supplements.”

“The FDA should formulate a coherent and consistent national policy on functional foods that consumers can understand and use in the context of the myriad food and dietary options available in today’s market,” said registered dietitian and ADA president Judith A. Gilbride. “To address the ambiguities and complexity regarding the labeling of functional foods, ADA recommends cautious evaluation of the clinical efficacy of individual products and dietary supplements before recommending their use to promote a specific health outcome.

“All dietary substances should be evaluated as foods with uniform rules and regulations for claims, requiring safety evaluations, premarketing approval and sound scientific evidence in support of the claim. ADA supports research to define further the health benefits and risks of individual functional foods and their physiologically active components,” Gilbride said.

Gilbride said the FDA can best protect consumers by following these guidelines in regulating functional foods:

  • Label claims should be clear, understandable, truthful and not misleading.
  • Content on the label should help consumers make informed decisions to build a healthy diet.
  • Label content should have consistent type and format so products can be read and consumers can make product comparisons.
  • All claims should include labeling of accurate quantitative information about the dietary substance, including percent of Daily Values in a single serving of the product, when known or the daily dietary intake necessary to achieve the claimed effect.
  • Consumer research is imperative before making changes to the label.
  • The label is only a source of information; sustained support for educational programs and individual counseling by registered dietitians is essential.

With approximately 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.


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