CHPA Asks FDA to Permit Certain Abbreviated Health Claims

CHPA Asks FDA to Permit Certain Abbreviated Health Claims

WASHINGTONThe ConsumerHealthcare Products Association (CHPA) recently recommended the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) allow abbreviated health claims in which a clear statementcould be placed on the front of a dietary supplement package describing theability of the substance to reduce the risk of a disease or health-relatedcondition.

CHPA presented the recommendation in a July 6 submission toFDA regarding the reopened 1995 proposed rule on nutrient content and healthclaims.

CHPA (www.chpa-info.org) also addressed FDAs request forcomments on whether consumers potentially could be misled by abbreviated healthclaims.

CHPA said these types of claims should not cause confusion aslong as the statements themselves are truthful and not misleading, and there isa prominent and immediate adjacent reference that refers consumers toadditional labeling.

As an example, CHPA said statements such as soluble fiberfrom [name soluble fiber source] reduces the risk of heart disease followedby a statement such as see additional important information on the back [orside] panel, should not cause confusion if permitted on the principal displaypanel of a package.

CHPA also supported the recommendation of FDAs Task Forceon Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition to remove the word mayor might from unqualified health claims. Citing concern that the word maycould have several meanings, CHPA stated a simple declaration of the associationof the substance with the disease or health-related condition for an unqualifiedhealth claim would be the clearest to the consumer.