FDA's "qualified" food label meets opposition

Federal efforts to steer consumers toward healthy foods are applauded, but some question whether new labels will cause confusion.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. May 3, 2004.

Washington -- The Food and Drug Administration has approved walnuts as the first food to bear the agency's new "qualified health claim" because there is some evidence that they may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. But some believe this claim will confuse rather than enlighten shoppers.

While many physicians and nutritionists think nuts do have a place in a healthy diet -- as long as they are unsalted and eaten in moderation -- the new "qualified" label raises concern.

"I work in cardiac rehab, and when I ask my patients what low saturated fat and low cholesterol mean, they don't know," said Samantha Heller, senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Medical Center.

As obesity rates rise along with such killers as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, patients need all the help they can get to ferret out healthy foods. But they may require some guidance. Labels shout "low carb" or "fat free" but does this mean the food offers health benefits?

"At this point the labeling is so confusing that people don't understand whether they are getting something that is healthy or not," said Heller.

The wording of the FDA-allowed claim for walnuts is not likely to lift the fog. It states: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 oz of walnuts a day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. See nutrition information for fat [and calorie] content."