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Health
benefit claims
January 1999
In
addition to the new labeling rules, several rules previously issued
by the FDA are in effect.
Structure-function
claims (claims that the supplement maintains healthy or normal structures
or functions of the human body) may be included, such as "maintains
bowel regularity." They must be accompanied by a statement that
the claim "has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent
any disease."
No
disease claims (see "health claims" in the glossary) may be included
unless approved by the FDA. Which claims may be approved is a subject
of continuing debate. An imporant court ruling remanded the FDA
to reconsider several health claims that it had previously rejected;
the court held the FDA's action was an unconstitutional restriction
of free speech.
To
learn about this court ruling, see also: Court
Finds FDA Rejection of Truthful Health Claims Unconstitutional
(DSQI News: March 1999).
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