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Yogurt Makers Can Make Limited Claims About Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: FDA

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 4, 2024.

By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, March 4, 2024 -- Yogurt makers can now make limited claims about the food's power to help prevent type 2 diabetes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

In a statement released Friday, the agency said it will not object to "qualified health claims" that say there is some evidence that eating at least 2 cups of yogurt a week may lower the chances of developing the blood sugar disease.

The FDA has allowed "qualified health claims" for dietary supplements since 2000 and for foods since 2002, the Associated Press reported.

According to the agency, a qualified health claim is supported by scientific evidence but it doesn't meet the more rigorous “significant scientific agreement” standard required for an authorized health claim.

Some of the qualified health claims that the FDA has allowed in the past include that consuming some types of cocoa may reduce heart disease and cranberry juice might reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in women.

In the case of yogurt, the saga began in 2018 when Danone North America, whose yogurt brands include Dannon, Activa and Horizon Organics, petitioned the FDA for approval to make the health claim.

In its petition, the company pointed to studies that observed participants over time and found a link between eating yogurt and lower markers of diabetes. The FDA agreed there “is some credible evidence” of benefit from eating yogurt as a whole food, but not because of any particular nutrient in the product.

Still, critics said the label change is not based on gold-standard randomized controlled trials.

Food policy expert Marion Nestle told the Associated Press that qualified health claims are “ridiculous on their face.”

“Translation: If you want to believe this, go ahead, but it’s not on the basis of evidence,” she added.

Sources

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, March 1, 2024
  • Associated Press

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted March 2024

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