FDA’s “healthy” claim study: AHPA calls for small-sized herb, spice and tea packaging to be included

14 Jul 2021 --- The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is encouraging the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include retail packaged spices, herbs and tea products in its study of “healthy” claims. 

Announced in May, the FDA is considering defining and creating a “healthy” nutrient content claim symbol on food packaging. The potential update aims to help address health inequities associated with some nutrition-related chronic diseases. 

AHPA points out how the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 encouraged substitutive use of herbs, spices, and unsweetened beverages to promote “healthy dietary patterns that are low in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.” The consensus continues in the 2020-2025 report.

The association anticipates action from FDA to update the claim definition by the end of 2021, and will “continue to press for a definition that reflects the modern scientific consensus.”

Space on small packs
The FDA aims to gather consumer perspectives of what is “healthy” from a 15-minute web-based questionnaire. It would test consumer impressions of symbols placed on mock product packaging of a breakfast cereal, a frozen meal and a canned soup.

However, teas, spices and herbal products are often sold in small packages that differ from those proposed in the study. AHPA flags “such a narrow set of product package types may prove insufficient to capture consumer impressions of a front of package symbol.”

For example, many herbal product packages have smaller labeling areas, such as accompanying explanations or URLs.

The small packaging sizes of teas, spices and herbal products may affect consumer perceptions of the FDA’s “healthy” symbol elements.Herbs and spices on the rise
Studying a variety of packaging applications is crucial, as a study last year revealed on-pack designs and word choice influence consumer trust in health claims. 

Moreover, Innova Market Insights data revealed the use of herbs and spices in food and beverage launches is increasing globally, featuring a 2.5 percent year-over-year growth when comparing 2018 and 2019 launches.

“Addressing a wider range of products in this first study will ensure FDA has consumer data of sufficient utility to apply in later research and in final rule development,” the AHPA highlights.

Quarrel over health claims
Food and nutrition claims on-pack serve to provide consumers with an understandable, visual overview of a product’s health profile. The traffic light system Nutri-Score is the main health labeling code already in use across Europe. 

Brands strive to achieve such health claims and labels to boost brand engagement and guarantee repeat purchases. Moreover, voluntary labels on the front, not back-of-pack can improve food quality and encourage better nutrition.

However, concerns have continuously mounted that “healthy” claims are not fully linked to the actual nutritional quality of the product. 

In 2018, health organizations from 11 countries called out “the EU Commission’s long-standing failure to clear the market of bogus food claims.” Their concerns included foods and drinks loaded with sugar, salt or fat with nutrition claims such as “high in fibers,” “B vitamins” or health claims like “boosts your immune system.”

By Anni Schleicher