Volume 13, Number
7 - July
2012
Hello from Food
Label News.
School is out for summer! As we strive to live well and make
healthy food choices, we explore the labeling differences
between conventional foods vs. dietary supplements. We also
conclude our very popular series on examples of Nutrition
Facts Labels. Happy reading and we look forward to hearing
your feedback in the
Food Label Community on LinkedIn.
Enjoy your summer!
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Conventional Food vs. Dietary
Supplements: It’s a Fine Line
With today’s focus on wellness and smart food
choices, supplements for our daily diets are more
popular than ever. Is there a difference between fortified
foods and supplements? What about energy drinks? While there is a
clear set of food labeling regulations for conventional
foods and a distinct subset for dietary supplements, understanding the nuances takes care.
Let’s begin with some fundamental
definitions: Dietary supplements are products taken by mouth
that contain a dietary ingredient intended to supplement the
diet. Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals,
herbs/botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues,
glandular, metabolites, extracts or concentrates.
Conventional foods are commonly understood to be all foods,
beverages, and chewing gums for human consumption that do
not qualify as dietary supplements.
Some of the key formulation, labeling and
marketing differences include:
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Conventional foods are labeled with Nutrition Facts;
dietary supplements are labeled with Supplement
Facts. |
• |
Claims made on dietary supplements require FDA
notification and a label disclaimer, while claims
made on conventional foods do not. |
• |
Some ingredients can be added to dietary supplements
that are not allowed in conventional foods. |
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Not all claims that are available for conventional
foods are allowable for dietary supplements. |
FDA has issued
guidance to help companies
determine whether a product should be labeled and marketed
as a conventional food or a dietary supplement. |
Reader Q&A
Q. |
Is there a standard to call an FDA or
USDA product a “meal replacement”?
− S.T., Pennsylvania,
Package Designer |
A. |
Although there is
no standard definition for “meal
replacement”, there are four references
in Title 21 of the Code of Federal
Regulations for this term.
Read more. |
See
Reader Q&A archive
for an additional 50+ questions.
Send us
your question
for an upcoming issue.
What's new
in the
Food Label Community on
• |
Allergen advisory
statements |
• |
Rules for
flavor labeling |
• |
Europe's
debate: is stevia "natural"? |
• |
Disney's stand on
advertising to kids |
Join
Food Label Community to stay informed.
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Given the ambiguity that sometimes
surrounds dietary supplements vs. conventional foods,
manufacturers will want to make this determination early in
the product development process. There are many
ramifications for formulation, labeling and marketing. See a
quick summary of available
label claims and statements for these two classes of
products on page 2 of our Regulatory Guide. |
Examples of Nutrition Facts
Labels:
Part 10 of 10
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Feel free to review these examples that provide a
quick reference for food
nutrition facts labels. |
At your service
Food Consulting Company,
founded in 1993, provide nutrition analysis, food labeling,
and regulatory support to ensure 100% compliance with FDA
regulations. We value the relationships we've developed with
our 1,500+ clients worldwide and are working to stay
connected. We invite you to join the
Food Label Community on LinkedIn to build your network. For more information about
Food Consulting Company, visit
www.foodlabels.com.
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© 2012. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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