The FDA stated that it would accept specific claims as long as they are not misleading and meet the necessary criteria, according to a recent announcement on 1 March.
The qualified health claims supported by scientific evidence, although they do not meet the stringent standards for an authorized health claim, as outlined by the food safety regulator.
Dairy leader Danone submitted a petition to the FDA for a qualified health claim, linking yogurt consumption to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The FDA concluded that there is credible evidence supporting this association.
According to the US regulator, a minimum of three servings of yogurt per week is required for this claim to be valid.
This decision coincides with the increasing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among Americans to combat diabetes.
A survey conducted by US investment bank Stifel in November highlighted the growing usage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
Stifel warned of a potential risk to the packaged food industry due to the rising popularity of these drugs, notably Ozempic and Wegovy produced by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
Recent findings from Trilliant Health disclosed that around nine million Americans were taking a GLP-1 anti-obesity drug by the end of 2022, with expectations of a higher figure based on Stifel’s survey.
The bank’s research revealed that 15% of respondents across three surveys had used a GLP-1 drug, with an additional 21% expressing interest if these drugs were universally FDA-approved for weight loss and widely available.
