And here we go... EPA and DHA added to foods..

[Guest guest]

[Omega-3 eggs -- from hens fed flax -- have been around for a while. Now

that the health claim is here, I'm sure we'll see Omega-3 fortified milk,

cheese, protein bars, crackers, hot dogs....David.]

 

 

Health Claims OK'd for Foods with Fatty Acids

By Steven Reinberg

HealthDay Reporter

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2004/09/08/hscout521122.html

 

 

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- The U.S. government, citing

mounting evidence that fatty acids found in some fish cut the risk of heart

disease, said Wednesday that food and supplement makers can make health

claims on products containing these substances.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, joining a growing chorus that

includes the American Heart Association, gave the green light to companies

whose products have what are called omega-3 fatty acids.

 

" We are announcing a qualified health claim for a reduced risk of coronary

heart disease on conventional foods that contain eiscosapentaenoic acid

(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids, " acting FDA

commissioner Lester M. Crawford said at a news conference.

 

This means that manufacturers of foods and supplements that contain omega-3

fatty acids can now add the following to their product labels: " Supportive

but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3

fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. "

 

In addition, the label must include the amount of EPA and DHA in a serving

of the product.

 

" The new qualified health claim for omega-3 fatty acids will empower

consumers with more information to help combat this disease and improve

their health by identifying foods that contain these important compounds, "

Crawford said.

 

FDA research found that while these particular fatty acids are not

essential in the diet, they do reduce heart disease, he added.

 

The health claim is restricted to the benefit omega-3 fatty acids have on

reducing heart disease, not for any other benefit they may have, said

Barbara Schneeman, the director of the Office of Nutritional Products,

Labeling and Dietary Supplements in the FDA's Center for Food Safety and

Applied Nutrition.

 

" We would expect someone who uses it [the claim] on their product to

indicate the amount of EPA and DHA in their product, " added Kathy Ellwood,

the division director of Nutrition Programs and Labeling in the Office of

Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements.

 

" We would expect the claims would be used on fish and seafood products that

contain the fatty acids, " Schneeman said. " We would expect they would be

used on supplements that provide the fatty acids. "

 

These fatty acids are found in fatty fish such as salmon, lake trout, tuna,

and herring and also in dietary supplements. Currently, the FDA recommends

that consumers limit their intake of omega-3 fatty acids to three grams per

day from fish and two grams per day from supplements.

 

Schneeman said these restrictions are based on the potential dangers of

ingesting too much omega-3 fatty acid. The risks include a reduced ability

for blood to clot, she said.

 

Ellwood noted that there are restrictions on using this health claim.

" There are disqualifying levels for amounts of saturated fat and

cholesterol. They [manufacturers] have to meet certain regulatory

requirements before they could make the claim, " she said.

 

Earlier this year, the FDA approved a similar qualified health claim for

walnuts, which contain other properties that appear to reduce the risk of

heart disease.