05.01.09
The American Dietetic Association (ADA), Chicago, IL, released an updated position on functional foods in early April, stating that fortified, enriched or enhanced foods can benefit a person’s health when consumed as part of a varied diet.
The statement, published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, also encourages further research and urges continued efforts to educate the public on such foods.
“ADA supports research to further define the health benefits and risks of individual functional foods and their physiologically active components,” the statement reads. “Health claims on food products, including functional foods, should be based on the significant scientific agreement standard of evidence and ADA supports label claims based on such strong scientific substantiation.”
The paper includes definitions of the term as used in different countries and notes “functional foods” is not a legal term but a marketing term. ADA defines functional foods as those that “move beyond necessity to provide additional health benefits that may reduce disease risk and/or promote optimal health. Functional foods include conventional foods, modified foods (fortified, enriched or enhanced), medical foods and foods for special dietary uses.”
Growth in the market, ADA said, is being driven by three things: consumer interest in controlling one’s own health; rising healthcare costs; and scientific research linking diet to chronic disease reduction.
The statement, published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, also encourages further research and urges continued efforts to educate the public on such foods.
“ADA supports research to further define the health benefits and risks of individual functional foods and their physiologically active components,” the statement reads. “Health claims on food products, including functional foods, should be based on the significant scientific agreement standard of evidence and ADA supports label claims based on such strong scientific substantiation.”
The paper includes definitions of the term as used in different countries and notes “functional foods” is not a legal term but a marketing term. ADA defines functional foods as those that “move beyond necessity to provide additional health benefits that may reduce disease risk and/or promote optimal health. Functional foods include conventional foods, modified foods (fortified, enriched or enhanced), medical foods and foods for special dietary uses.”
Growth in the market, ADA said, is being driven by three things: consumer interest in controlling one’s own health; rising healthcare costs; and scientific research linking diet to chronic disease reduction.