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Regulations for Nutrient Claims
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all nutrient claims made on a food label are accurate and complete. These regulations, outlined in the Nutritional Labeling and Education Act, prohibit the false use of terms such as “free,” and “low.” The NLEA also prohibits false health-related statements regarding nutrient contents such as “heart healthy.”
In order to comply with FDA regulation for nutrient content claims, a label must not state that its contents are “free” of any ingredient unless that ingredient is present in no amount or a small amount not exceeding the regulation for that particular ingredient. A label claiming a “low” ingredient implies that the food product can be consumed regularly without exceeding dietary recommendations for that particular ingredient. Less stringent guidelines are applied to labels claiming “high,” “reduced,” or “light” ingredient levels.
The FDA has also created a set of strong regulations for food labels claiming a relationship between an ingredient and a health effect. Any connections made on a label between an ingredient and a health benefit must be accurate according to NLEA standards for that particular relationship. Claims must also be explained in a manner that is understandable to the average consumer.
A 2003 amendment to the 1990 NLEA also requires that food products containing trans fat have a label carrying this information.
For further information including necessary ingredient levels for content claims and exemptions to ingredient labeling, please consult the following sources:
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