GMA Calls on FDA to Withdraw, Revise Disease Claims Rules

GMA Calls on FDA to Withdraw, Revise Disease Claims Rules

WASHINGTON--The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) called on the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) to withdraw or revise its disease claims rules. According to GMA vicepresident James Skiles, the ruling prohibits GMA members from "disseminatingimportant nutrition and health information to consumers."

"By failing to incorporate the Pearson [v. Shalala] mandate into its regulatoryapproach," Skiles said, "FDA threatens the market with chaos and threatens toundermine its own guardianship of public health. ... In light of the potentialconsequences of its current actions, we request that FDA immediately withdraw and reviseits strategy to implement Pearson and must apply the principles set forth in Pearson toits regulation of food labeling."

The full text of the GMA petition is available online at www.gmabrands.com.