- Federal regulators are allowing yogurt manufacturers to make limited claims on their packaging that state that yogurt may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- The officials say qualified health claims can be made using specific wording as long as they make clear the claims are based on limited evidence.
- Experts say the decision could be confusing to consumers, who may misinterpret the labeling to mean yogurt is a definitive way to reduce type 2 diabetes.
Yogurt manufacturers in the United States will be able to claim on their labeling that yogurt may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, following a decision from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA officials announced their decision earlier this month to allow manufacturers to make the claims about yogurt as long as the statements meet certain conditions.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today… that it does not intend to object to the use of certain qualified health claims regarding the consumption of yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, provided that the qualified health claims are worded so as not to mislead consumers, and that other factors for the use of the claim are met,” agency officials said in a
“A qualified health claim is supported by scientific evidence but does not meet the more rigorous ‘significant scientific agreement’ standard required for an authorized health claim. There is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, but this evidence is limited,” agency officials added.
As part of the FDA’s decision, 2 cups or 3 servings of yogurt per week is considered to be the minimum amount of yogurt that needs to be consumed to meet the qualified health claim.
The decision from the FDA has been met with mixed responses among experts.
“While I can understand why the FDA allowed for this, I’m concerned about how consumers will interpret the claims and how companies will take…
Read the full article here