2024-05-07 12:58:22
Is yogurt really effective in preventing diabetes?
Last March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed the claim that ‘consumption of yogurt can reduce the risk of diabetes’ to be labeled in a limited form on related products.
What is the background to allowing yogurt product labels to claim that they can lower the risk of diabetes?
French food company Danone’s U.S. subsidiary (Danone North America) submitted a ‘Qualified Health Claims (QHC)’ petition to the FDA in 2018. QHC is a system that allows food companies to introduce this in advertisements or packaging when it is recognized that a specific food or ingredient is effective in preventing a specific disease.
The FDA ruled in Danone’s favor in March.
“Based on the scientific evidence and information submitted with the petition and other evidence and information, we have concluded that it is appropriate to consider QHC for yogurt consumption and reduction of type 2 diabetes risk,” the FDA said in its approval letter to Danone. However, the QHC mark must be expressed appropriately to avoid consumer misunderstanding.” Accordingly, ‘regularly consuming at least 2 cups (3 servings) of yogurt per week can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. FDA has permitted the use of the statement ‘FDA has concluded that there is limited information supporting this claim’.
Although QHC lacks full scientific basis, it is an acceptable claim as long as the product label includes a disclaimer to prevent public misunderstanding.
In response to a series of lawsuits from related companies challenging the scientific consent requirement, the FDA established QHC in 2000, a lower level than Authorized Health Claims (AHC), which is allowed when efficacy is sufficiently proven. It has been permitted in health supplements since 2002 and in foods since 2002.
Examples of QHC include reports that consuming some types of cocoa may reduce heart disease and that cranberry juice may reduce the risk of recurring urinary tract infections in women.
What does Danone claim about the relationship between yogurt and type 2 diabetes?
According to the Associated Press, Danone submitted information from a long-term study of participants that found a link between yogurt consumption and reduced diabetes markers. The FDA said there was “credible evidence” for the benefits of consuming yogurt as a natural food, but not because of any specific nutrients.
In other words, there is no direct evidence that yogurt can prevent diabetes, and there is only weak evidence that yogurt consumption may be associated with a reduction in certain biomarkers associated with an increased risk of the disease.
Critics questioned the approval, saying the data submitted was not based on standard randomized controlled trials that could demonstrate whether yogurt actually reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, points out that no single food can reduce the risk of disease related to overall diet. In fact, allowing labels to carry relevant claims could encourage consumption of types of yogurt that contain sugar and additives such as cookies and pretzels, which could increase the risk of diabetes.
Food policy expert Marion Nestlé called the health claims based on limited evidence “nonsense.”
Park Hae-sik, Donga.com reporter [email protected]
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2024-05-07 12:58:22