ADA Supports Functional Foods

CHICAGO—The American Dietetic Association (ADA) released a position paper that reviews the definition of functional foods, their regulation and the scientific evidence supporting the evolving area of food and nutrition. ADA supports research to further define the health benefits and risks of individual functional foods and their physiologically active components.

According to the paper, functional foods have evolved as food and nutrition science has advanced beyond the treatment of deficiency syndromes to reduction of disease risk and health promotion. The availability of health-promoting functional foods in the U.S. diet has the potential to help ensure a healthier population; however, each functional food should be evaluated on the basis of scientific evidence to ensure appropriate integration into a varied diet.