FDA Needs to Reassess False, Misleading Claims

WASHINGTONA new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs more authority from Congress to access evidence from food companies regarding potentially false or misleading structure/function or other claims on food that would allow FDA to establish whether there is scientific support for the claims.

The report also called on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the FDA Commissioner to provide guidance to industry on the type and strength of scientific evidence needed to prevent false or misleading information in a structure/function claim.

The GAO also called for the FDA to amend the "Compliance Program Guidance Manual" instructions to FDA inspectors for reviewing food labels during inspections of food facilities, to include steps for identifying potentially false or misleading structure/function claims for further review.

Click here to read the full report.