The latest version of this document issued in April 2008. Below is an earlier version.
A Food Labeling Guide--Appendix C
Food Labeling CFR References
(See updates at end of article)
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Calcium and Osteoporosis-- 21 CFR 101.72 |
- High in calcium, - Assimilable (Bioavailable), - Supplements must disintegrate and dissolve, and - Phosphorus content cannot exceed calcium content |
Indicates disease depends on many factors by listing risk factors
or the disease: Gender--Female. Race--Caucasian and Asian. Age--Growing
older. Primary target population: Females, Caucasian and Asian races, and teens and young adults in their bone-forming years. Additional factors necessary to reduce risk: Eating healthful meals, regular exercise. Mechanism relating calcium to osteoporosis: Optimizes peak bone mass. Foods or supplements containing more than 400 mg calcium must state that total intakes of greater than 2,000 mg calcium provide no added benefit to bone health. |
Regular exercise and a healthy diet with enough calcium helps teens and young adult white and Asian women maintain good bone health and may reduce their high risk of osteoporosis later in life. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Sodium and Hypertension-- 21 CFR 101.74 |
- Low sodium | Required terms: - "Sodium", "High blood pressure" Includes physician statement (Individuals with high blood pressure should consult their physicians) if claim defines high or normal blood pressure |
Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a disease associated with many factors. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Dietary Fat and Cancer-- 21 CFR 101.73 |
- Low fat (Fish & game meats: "Extra lean") |
Required terms: - "Total fat" or "Fat" - "Some types of cancers" or "Some cancers" Does not specify types of fats or fatty acids that may be related to risk of cancer. |
Development of cancer depends on many factors. A diet low in total fat may reduce the risk of some cancers. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Dietary Saturated Fat and Cholesterol and Risk of
Coronary Heart Disease-- 21 CFR 101.75 |
- Low saturated fat, - Low cholesterol, and - Low fat (Fish & game meats: "Extra lean") |
Required terms: - "Saturated fat and cholesterol", - "Coronary heart disease" or "Heart disease" Includes physician statement (individuals with elevated blood total--or LDL--cholesterol should consult their physicians) if claim defines high or normal blood total--and LDL--cholesterol. |
While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Fiber-Containing Grain Products, Fruits, and Vegetables
and Cancer-- 21 CFR 101.76 |
- A grain product, fruit, or vegetable that contains dietary fiber; - Low fat, and - Good source of dietary fiber (without fortification) |
Required terms: - "Fiber", "Dietary fiber", or "Total dietary fiber" - "Some types of cancer" or "Some cancers" Does not specify types of dietary fiber that may be related to risk of cancer. |
Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Fruits, Vegetables and Grain Products that contain
Fiber, particularly Soluble Fiber, and Risk of Coronary Heart
Disease- - 21 CFR 101.77 |
- A fruit, vegetable, or grain product that contains fiber; - Low saturated fat, - Low cholesterol, - Low fat, - At least 0.6 grams of soluble fiber per RA (without fortification), and, - Soluble fiber content provided on label |
Required terms: - "Fiber", "Dietary fiber", "Some types of dietary fiber", "Some dietary fibers", or "Some fibers" - "Saturated fat" and "Cholesterol" - "Heart disease" or "Coronary heart disease" Includes physician statement ("Individuals with elevated blood total--or LDL--cholesterol should consult their physicians") if claim defines high or normal blood total--and LDL--cholesterol. |
Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain some types of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of heart disease, a disease associated with many factors. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Fruits and Vegetables and Cancer-- 21 CFR 101.78 |
- A fruit or vegetable, - Low fat, and - Good source (without fortification) of at least one of the following:
|
Required terms: - "Fiber", "Dietary fiber", or "Total dietary fiber"; - "Total fat" or "Fat", - "Some types of cancer" or "Some cancers" Characterizes fruits and vegetables as "Foods that are low in fat and may contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and dietary fiber." Characterizes specific food as a "Good source" of one or more of the following: Dietary fiber, Vitamin A, or Vitamin C. Does not specify types of fats or fatty acids or types of dietary fiber that may be related to risk of cancer. |
Low fat diets rich in fruits and vegetables (foods that are low in fat and may contain dietary fiber, Vitamin A, or Vitamin C) may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors. Broccoli is high in vitamin A and C, and it is a good source of ditary fiber. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Folate and Neural Tube Defects-- 21 CFR 101.79 |
"Good source" of folate (at least 40 mcg folate per serving) - Dietary supplements, or foods in conventional food form that are naturally good sources of folate (i.e., only non-fortified food in conventional food form) - The claim shall not be made on products that contain more than 100% of the RDI for vitamin A as retinol or preformed vitamin A or vitamin D - Dietary supplements shall meet USP standards for disintegration and dissolution or otherwise bioavailable -Amount of folate required in N.L. |
Required terms: - Terms that specify the relationship (e.g., women who are capable of becoming pregnant and who consume adequate amounts of folate) "Folate", "folic acid", "folacin","folate a B vitamin", "folic acid, a B vitamin," "folacin, a B vitamin," "neural tube defects", "birth defects, spinal bifida, or anencephaly", "birth defects of the brain or spinal cord -- anencephaly or spinal bifida", "spinal bifida or anencephaly, birth defects of the brain or spinal cord". Must also include information on the multifactorial nature of neural tube defects, and the safe upper limit of daily intake. |
Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman's risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Dietary Sugar Alcohol and Dental Caries-- 21 CFR 101.80 |
-Sugar free -The sugar alcohol must be xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomalt, lactitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, hydrogenated glucose syrups, erythritol, or a combination. -When a fermentable carbohydrate is present, the food must not lower plaque pH below 5.7. |
Required terms: -"does not promote," "may reduce the risk of," "useful [or is useful] in not promoting" or "expressly [or is expressly] for not promoting" dental caries; -"sugar alcohol" or "sugar alcohols" or the name or names of the sugar alcohols, e.g., sorbitol; -"dental caries" or "tooth decay."
|
Full claim: Frequent between-meal consumption of foods high in sugars and starches promotes tooth decay. The sugar alcohols in [name of food] do not promote tooth decay. Shortened claim(on small packages only): Does not promote tooth decay. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Soluble Fiber from Certain Foods and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease - 21 CFR 101.81 |
-Low saturated fat -Low cholesterol -Low fat -Include either (1) one or more eligible sources of whole oats, containing at least 0.75 g whole oat soluble fiber per RA; or (2) psyllium seed husk containing at least 1.7 g of psyllium husk soluble fiber per RA -Amount of soluble fiber per RA declared in nutrition label. Eligible Source of Soluble Fiber Beta () glucan soluble fiber from oat bran, rolled oats (or oatmeal), and whole oat flour. Oat bran must provide at least 5.5% -glucan soluble fiber, rolled oats must provide at least 4% -glucan soluble fiber, and whole oat flour must provide at least 4% -glucan soluble fiber or Psyllium husk wih purity of no less than 95%
|
Required terms: - "Heart disease" or "coronary heart disease." - "Soluble fiber" qualified by either "psyllium seed husk" or the name of the eligible source of whole oat soluble fiber. - "Saturated fat" and "cholesterol." - "Daily dietary intake of the soluble fiber source necessary to reduce the risk of CHD and the contribution one serving of the product makes to this level of intake." Additional Required Label Statement Foods bearing a psyllium seed husk health claim must also bear a label statement concerning the need to consume them with adequate amounts of fluids; e.g., "NOTICE: This food should be eaten with at least a full glass of liquid. Eating this product without enough liquid may cause choking. Do not eat this product if your have difficulty in swallowing." (21 CFR 101.17(f)) |
Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of soluble fiber source, and, if desired, name of food product], as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of food product] supplies __ grams of the [necessary daily dietary intake for the benefit] soluble fiber from [name of soluble fiber source] necessary per day to have this effect. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Soy Protein and Risk of Coronary
Heart Disease
21 CFR 101.82 |
- At least 6.25 g soy protein per RA
- Low saturated fat, - Low cholesterol, and - Low fat (except that foods made from whole soybeans that contain no fat in addition to that inherent in the whole soybean are exempt from the "low fat" requirement) |
Required terms:
- "Heart disease" or "coronary heart disease" - "Soy protein" - "Saturated fat" and "cholesterol" Claim specifies daily dietary intake levels of soy protein associated with reduced risk Claim specifies amount of soy protein in a serving of food |
(1) 25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a
diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may
reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of
[name of food] supplies __ grams of soy protein.
(2) Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides __ grams of soy protein. |
Approved Claims |
Food Requirements |
Claim Requirements |
Model Claim, Statements |
---|---|---|---|
Plant Sterol/stanol esters and Risk
of Coronary Heart Disease
21 CFR 101.83 |
- At least 0.65 g plant sterol esters per RA of
spreads and salad dressings, or
- At least 1.7 g plant stanol esters per RA of spreads, salad dressings, snack bars, and dietary supplements. - Low saturated fat, - Low cholesterol, and - Spreads and salad dressings that exceed 13 g fat per 50 g must bear the statement "see nutrition information for fat content" Salad dressings are exempted from the[ minimum 10% DV nutrient requirement (see General Criteria below) |
Required terms:
- " May" or " might" reduce the risk of CHD - " Heart disease" or " coronary heart disease" - " Plant sterol esters" or " plant stanol esters" ; except " vegetable oil" may replace the term " plant" if vegetable oil is the sole source of the sterol/stanol ester Claim specifies plant stero/stanol esters are part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Claim does not attribute any degree of CHD risk reduction. Claim specifies the daily dietary intake of plant sterol or stanol esters necessary to reduce CHD risk, and the amount provided per serving. Claim specifies that plant sterol or stanol esters should be consumed with two different meals each a day. |
(1) Foods containing at least 0.65 gram per
serving of vegetable oil sterol esters, eaten
twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of
at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the
risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of
food] supplies __ grams of vegetable oil sterol
esters.
(2) Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include two servings of foods that provide a daily total of at least 3.4 grams of plant stanol esters in two meals may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of food] supplies __ grams of plant stanol esters. |
CLAIMS AUTHORIZED BASED ON AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENTS BY FEDERAL SCIENTIFIC BODIES | |||
---|---|---|---|
APPROVED CLAIMS |
FOOD REQUIREMENTS |
CLAIM REQUIREMENTS |
MODEL CLAIM STATEMENTS |
Whole Grain Foods and Risk of
Heart Disease and Certain Cancers
Docket No. 99P-2209 |
- Contains 51 percent or more whole grain
ingredients by weight per RA, and
- Dietary fiber content at least:
- Low fat |
Required wording of the claim:
" Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers." |
NA |
Potassium and the Risk of High
Blood Pressure and Stroke
Docket No. 00Q-1582 |
- Good source of potassium
- Low sodium - Low total fat - Low saturated fat - Low cholesterol |
Required wording for the claim:
"Diets containing foods that are a good source of potassium and that are low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke." |
NA |
Vitamin A | 500 IU | Calcium | 100 mg | |
Vitamin C | 6 mg | Protein | 5 g | |
Iron | 1.8 mg | Fiber | 2.5 g |
Disqualifying Nutrients | Foods | Main Dishes | Meal Products |
Fat | 13 g | 19.5 g | 26 g |
Saturated Fat | 4 g | 6 g | 8 g |
Cholesterol | 60 mg | 90 mg | 120 mg |
Sodium | 480 mg | 720 mg | 960 mg |
Abbreviations: RA = reference amount, IU = International Units
Chapter VI: Questions 1 - 25 Appendix A Definitions of Nutrient Claims Appendix B Relative (or Comparative) Claims
|
Updated Information:
March 20, 2001: Claims That Can Be Made for Conventional Foods and Dietary Supplements
October 2, 2002: Oatrim (amylase-hydrolyzed whole oat flour or oat bran) was added to the eligible sources of oat soluble fiber. Interim Final Rule -- Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soluble Dietary Fiber From Certain Foods and Coronary Heart Disease
December 23, 2005: Barley was added as an additional eligible source of beta-glucan soluble fiber. Interim Final Rule -- Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soluble Dietary Fiber From Certain Foods and Coronary Heart Disease