What are Health Claims?

Health claims link the relationship of food ingredients to a disease or health-related condition. Since this information is optional, many foods that meet the criteria don't carry any health claim on their label.

Only approved health claims supported by scientific evidence are allowed on food labels. For example, because sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure in some people, the labels of foods low in sodium may say, "Can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure."

When reading health claims, remember: diet is only one factor that can help reduce your risk for certain diseases. Listed below are the 13 health claims approved by the Food and Drug Administration:

1. Calcium and osteoporosis
2. Fat and cancer
3. Saturated fat and cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD)
4. Fiber-containing grain products, fruits and vegetables and cancer
5. Fruits, vegetables and grain products that contain fiber, particularly soluble fiber, and risk of CHD
6. Sodium and hypertension (high blood pressure)
7. Fruits and vegetables and cancer
8. Folic acid and neural tube defects
9. Dietary sugar alcohols and dental caries (cavities)
10. Soluble fiber from psyllium seed husks and heart disease
11. Soy protein and risk of CHD
12. Plant sterol/stanol esters and CHD
13. Soluble fiber from whole oats or barley and reduced risk of heart disease.

To learn more about health claims approved by the Food and Drug Administration visit http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html