07/22/03

American Dietetic Association’s “evidence-based rating system” adopted by FDA to evaluate food company product claims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 22, 2003

Media contacts: Lori Ferme, Bridget McManamon, Tom Ryan
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4769, 4894

CHICAGO - The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is adopting the American Dietetic Association’s “evidence-based rating system” to evaluate qualified health claims made by food companies.

In addition to assisting millions of consumers in making more knowledgeable food product choices, use of the ranking system will improve the FDA’s ability to “more aggressively enforce the law against companies that appeal to consumers through false and misleading health claims,” said FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan.

By using an evidence-based ranking system, FDA’s Task Force on Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition hopes to give the public a tool for evaluating the science behind a qualified health claim. For example, if there is “significant scientific agreement” among experts that a health claim is true, a high rank of scientific evidence, or “A,” would be awarded, and consumers could feel greatest confidence about the validity of the claim.

Alternatively, a low rank of scientific evidence, or “D,” represents an extremely low level of comfort among qualified scientists that the claimed relationship between product and health is valid. In all, there are four ranks where health claims would be permitted.

Since January 2000, the American Dietetic Association has built several successful products and programs around its evidence-based procedures, including practice guides and models for dietetics professionals.

As noted in background documents, while many different evidence-based rating systems used by members of the medical and research communities were considered, “FDA found the modifications from the American Dietetic Association to be particularly useful as they considered diet and health relationships.”

With nearly 70,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition and well-being.