03.01.07
FDA has decided to solicit comments on amending the regulation authorizing a health claim on the relationship between soluble fiber from certain foods and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The amendment proposes to exempt certain foods from the nutrient content requirement of “low fat.” The exemption would apply if the food exceeds this requirement due to fat content derived from whole oat sources. FDA is taking this action in response to a petition submitted by Chicago, IL-based Quaker Oats Company (the petitioner).
Quaker’s petition described a problem certain products have in meeting the eligibility criteria of the soluble fiber and CHD health claim. Quaker produces, among other things, flavored varieties of reduced sugar instant oatmeal products as well as unmodified (with respect to sugar content) instant oatmeal products. The petition stated that Quaker Oats Company’s flavored, unmodified instant oatmeal products are eligible to bear the soluble fiber and CHD health claim, but flavored, reduced sugar instant oatmeal products are not because the latter products do not meet the nutrient content requirement for “low fat.” The petition stated that the formulation of flavored instant oatmeal products with “reduced sugar” made these products technically ineligible to bear the oat beta-glucan health claim because by reducing sugar, the products contain more whole oats (and fat from whole oats).The amendment would expand the use of this health claim to some whole oat products that are currently ineligible for the health claim. Comments to this proposed amendment must be submitted by April 24th.
Quaker’s petition described a problem certain products have in meeting the eligibility criteria of the soluble fiber and CHD health claim. Quaker produces, among other things, flavored varieties of reduced sugar instant oatmeal products as well as unmodified (with respect to sugar content) instant oatmeal products. The petition stated that Quaker Oats Company’s flavored, unmodified instant oatmeal products are eligible to bear the soluble fiber and CHD health claim, but flavored, reduced sugar instant oatmeal products are not because the latter products do not meet the nutrient content requirement for “low fat.” The petition stated that the formulation of flavored instant oatmeal products with “reduced sugar” made these products technically ineligible to bear the oat beta-glucan health claim because by reducing sugar, the products contain more whole oats (and fat from whole oats).The amendment would expand the use of this health claim to some whole oat products that are currently ineligible for the health claim. Comments to this proposed amendment must be submitted by April 24th.