Posted August 29, 2013
Politico reports that the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has submitted paperwork required to launch a study on whether fortified
snack foods and drinks cause consumers to believe that substituting them for
more nutritious food ensures a healthy diet.
The Politico article, available here,
mentions drinks like “Vitamin Water, which along with vitamins A, B, and C also
has 33 grams of sugar” and snacks like “Girl Scout cookies, which are fortified
with vitamins A, B, C, D, and E and claim to be a ‘delicious way to get your
vitamins’” would be part of the study.
According to the
Federal Register notice, available here,
the study would use a 15-minute web-based questionnaire to collect information
from 7,500 adult members of an online consumer panel. Participants would view mock labels and
answer questions about their perceptions and reactions.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association spokewoman, Ginny
Smith, said that her organization “shares the FDA’s commitment to helping
consumers achieve and maintain a healthful diet by providing a variety of
products, tools and information.” Beth
Johnson, a dietitian speaking on behalf of the Snack Food Association “said she
also sees value in FDA’s study” but “consumers are pretty savvy and if we give
them the information, they can make their decision.”
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act gives FDA
authority to issue regulations that require almost all packaged foods to
include nutrition labeling. The law also
allows manufacturers to provide other nutrition information including health
claims, nutrient content claims, and structure/function claims. FDA’s policy on fortification, 21 C.F.R. §
104.20, is available here.
For more information on food labeling, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website, here.
