Chapter 9: Food & Supplement Labeling

Advice for supplement users

- Consumers who choose to use supplements should ask critical questions beforehand - Consumers should check with the FDA website for consumer advisories on supplements to avoid - Discuss supplement use with the physician - Only single-supplement products should be used, and the dose should be small - Should be taken at different times from prescribed medications - Should be discontinued immediately if adverse side effects or supplement-drug interactions occur - Pregnant or lactating women and children under the age of 6 should not use herbs and other botanical supplements

food biotechnology

-Combines plant science with genetics to improve food -FDA asserts genetically engineered foods do not pose a health or safety risk -fo not required mandatory labeling, unless the food contains new allergens

3 categories of country of origin in food labeling

-US only origin -foreign only origin -mixed origin

food labeling

-a learning tool to help consumers make healthier food choices -purpose is to enable value comparisons and prevent unfair deceptive packaging and labeling

significant step in protecting consumers is ensuring that supplements...

-are free of contaminants or impurities -contain the stated amount of dietary ingredient -are properly packages -are made from ingredients that were properly handled

Symptoms of foodborne illness that warrant medical attention

-bloody diarrhea -stiff neck with severe headache or fever -excessive diarrhea or vomiting -symptoms that persist for more than 3 days

advice for CBD consumers

-buy only from dispensary bc the amount of CBD in the product must be labelled as well as whether it contains THC -CBD products are not standardized, so dosing may vary -safest way to take is orally via a tablet, chewable, or tincture -although it appears safe, CBD cause produce nausea, fatigue, and irritability, and may interact with other medications -regular use is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 21

items that make health claims also meet other requirements:

-do not exceed specific levels for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium -contain at least 10% of the daily value for any one or all of the following: protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron -additional health criteria are specific for the claim made -specific FDA approved labeling language must be used -companies must petition the FDA for prior written permission to make a qualified health claim

supplement use is widespread bc they are...

-easily accessible -low in cost, appeal -natural cures -presumed to be safe and effective -allow consumers to take charge of their own health

who issues regulations mandating specific information to be included on the food label

-federal trade commission (FTC) -US food and drug administration (FDA)

food label design

-font size is larger for calories, servings per container, and serving size -calories and serving size in bold type -clearly explains the meaning od the % DV

functional foods

-foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition -manufactured functional foods: blend of pharmacy & food ("phoods") -should be viewed as an option in the continuum of good nutrition, not as a "magic bullet"

positive results of food biotechnology

-healthier crops and greater yields -greater resistance to severe weather -longer shelf life and increased freshness -higher nutritional value -better flavor -improved characteristics -new food varieties through cross breeding -potential benefits to alleviate world hunger

herbal supplements

-in a medical sense, unapproved drugs -do not have to meet the same standards as drugs and over the counter medications -because herbal supplements may have significant interactions with each other or prescribed medicine, uses should consult their healthcare provider before using

who is particularly vulnerable for foodborne illnesses?

-infants -pregnant women -older adults -people with compromised immune systems

dietary & herbal supplements

-intended to add to the diets of some people, not to replace a healthy diet -a group name for products that contain one or more dietary ingredients including vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances -taken by mouth (capsule, tablet, lozenges, liquid, or "tea")

legal status of CBD

-legal status of CBD is murky -FDA has concluded that CBD products do not meet the definition of a dietary supplement -illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement -illegal to advertise that CBD-infused products can prevent, treat, or cure human disease without competent and reliable scientific evidence to support such claims

health claims

-legally defined -Ex: "calcium may help osteoporosis" & "low sodium may help prevent high blood pressure"

Cannabidiol (CBD)

-marketplace for CBD products is growing faster than the science behind it and the federal laws to regulate it -does change consciousness, promoting a mellow feeling, diminishing the sensation of pain, and increasing comfort -strongest evidence for using CBD is its effectiveness in treating certain epilepsy syndromes that usually do not respond to anti-seizure medications

8 major food allergens

-milk & eggs -fish & crustacean shellfish -tree nuts & peanuts -wheat -soybeans

updated serving sizes

-must be based on amounts of foods and beverages that people are actually eating -packaged foods and beverages that are typically consumed in one sitting are labeled as a single serving -a dual column label is required on certain larger packages that could be consumed in either one or multiple sittings

what specific info must be included on the food label

-name and form (ex: sliced or chopped) of the product -net amount of food or beverage by weight, measure, or count -name and address of manufacturer, packer, or distributor

structure/function claims

-offer possibility that a food may improve or support body function -can be used without FDA approval and do not have to carry a disclaimer -Ex: "improves mood" & "suppresses appetite to aid weight loss"

popularity of dietary and herbal supplements are associated with...

-potential health benefits -aging population -increasing healthcare costs -medical discoveries

Foods exempt from labeling

-raw foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish) -foods containing insignificant amounts of nutrients (ex: coffee, tea, and spice) -bulk food -foods in packages with surface area for labeling less than 12 square inches (ex: breath mints)

country of origin in food labeling

-required on beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fish, shellfish, peanuts, fresh and frozen fruits & vegetables, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng -enable consumes to make informed decisions about purchasing items from countries that may not regulate pesticides or antibiotic use as closely as the US

supplement regulation

-safety & effectiveness are not proven -strength is not standardized -dosages are not standardized -claims on package do not require FDA approval -warnings are not required -supplements are self-perscribed

nutrition content claims

-terms such as "low," "free," and "high" describe a level of a nutrient or substance in a food -legally defined -reliable and valid

food irradiation

-used to reduce or eliminate pathogens that can cause foodborne illness -federal law required irradiated food to be labeled

organically grown foods

-uses "natural" products -more expensive than other foods -organic foods are not safer than conventional foods

the majority of foodborne illnesses are caused by...

bacteria

dietary supplements on food label

for the first time, identity, purity, quality, and composition of dietary supplements are required to be accurately reflected on the label

ingredient list

listed in descending order by weight

allergens in food labeling

manufacturers are required to clearly state if a food product contains any ingredients that contain protein from the 8 major food allergens

foods containing _______ are the most frequent vehicles of foodborne illnesses

protein

gluten free in food labeling

regulations require that a product must contain less than 20 ppm of gluten to be labeled as gluten free

___________ is the leader in biotech farming.

the US

major cause of foodborne illness

unsanitary food handling

_______ account for the largest share of the supplement market.

vitamins