Nutrition Claims/ labels

Question 0

Health Claims

Answer 0

• Statement regarding specific nutrient/disease relationships
• Use may or might
• Do not require disclaimer

Question 1

Claims

Answer 1

• Nutrient claims
  * FDA defines and regulates
• Health claims
  * FDA defines and regulates
• Structure–function claims
  * Made without FDA approval, proof
  * No guarantee that any benefits are true
  * Example: “Improves memory“
• Dietary Guidance Claims

Question 2

Qualified Health Claims

Answer 2

• Similar to health claims
  
  • Limited evidence disclaimer required
  • Category B or C
• Examples
  
  • Omega-3 and Heart Disease
  • Psyllium Husk and DM

Question 3

Nutrient Claims

Answer 3

• Refer to nutrient content of product
• Absolute
  
  • Sugar Free; No Added Sugar
    * Low sugar is NOT an approved claim
  • Fat Free; Low Fat
• Relative/comparative
  
  • Reduced
    * 25% less than reference food
• Added, Extra, Plus
  
  • ≤ 10% DV more than reference food

Question 4

Good/Excellent Sources

Answer 4

• Fiber
  
  • ≥5 g/serving
  • Must also be “low fat”
  • Total fat content must be next to claim
• Protein
  
  • Must provide DV
  • DV for protein not required
    
    • If provided, company must perform protein quality analysis

Question 5

Implied claims

Answer 5

• Healthy
  
  • Low fat and saturated fat
    
    • ≤ 60 mg cholesterol
    • ≤ 480 mg sodium
    • ≤ 10% DV of
    • Vit A, Vit C, Fe, –OR– Ca
• Equivalence Claims
  
  • “As much vitamin C and 8 oz. of OJ”
• Reference an ingredient known to contain a specific nutrient
  
  • Function/Structure Claims
• Natural
  
  • No formal definition
  • No objection to foods w/out
    
    • Added color
    • Artificial flavors
    • Synthetic substances

Question 6

Function/structure Claims

Answer 6

• Connects substance to body structure or function
  
  • “Calcium builds strong bones”
• Standards
  
  • Does not reference disease
  • Must be truthful and non-misleading
• No disclaimer required

Question 7

Not implied claims

Answer 7

• Avoidance Claims
  
  • Religious
  • Allergen/food intolerance
• Statements of non-nutritive substance
  
  • “No artificial flavors”
• Added value statements
  
  • “Made with real butter”
• Dietary Guidance Claims

Question 8

Religious symbols

Answer 8

• Halal
• Kosher
  
  • Jewish Dietary Laws
  • Many similarities with Halal

Question 9

Halal

Answer 9

• Islamic Dietary Laws
• Guidelines include
  
  • Forbidden foods
    
    • e.g. pork
  • Slaughtering techniques
  • No alcohol

Question 10

Kosher

Answer 10

• Symbols vary by certifying agency
  
  • Called hechshers
• Examples
  
  • Orthodox Union (“OU”)
  • Organized Kashrut Laboratories
• No consumption of meat and milk together
  
  • Pareve
    
    • Safe to eat with either dairy or meat
  • D
    
    • Contains dairy
    • Made with equipment exposed to dairy
• Alcohol allowed