ABSTRACT
In response to the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, the Food and Drug Administration approved seven health claims that addressed the relationship between broad food categories and risk of certain chronic diseases. These claims are based on scientific consensus that includes epidemiological, animal and clinical research. The Food and Drug Administration also established a process to petition for new health claims that address substance-disease relationships supported by adequate scientific and specific regulatory requirements. The whole grain-cancer and heart disease authoritative statement health claim approved in July 1999 followed a completely different process mandated by the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997. It is based on an authoritative statement made by a government body that represents scientific consensus and is supported by other scientific agencies and organizations. The scientific basis for the claim published in Diet and Health reflects a comprehensive and deliberative review of epidemiological, animal and human studies by the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Diet and Health. Health claims used on whole grain products can attract the attention of health-conscious consumers and are important tools in communicating health messages. However, the US public consumes substantially fewer whole-grain servings than recommended by US dietary guidance. Reasons given by consumers for not purchasing wholegrain foods include colour, price, softness, texture, moisture content and taste. Developing tastier value-added wholegrain foods along with simple coordinated messages from industry, the scientific community, public health experts and government will help consumers identify, purchase and consume more wholegrain products.
Subject(s)
Edible Grain , Food Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence , Food, Organic , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage , Food Labeling/standards , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Promotion , Humans , Nutrition Policy , United States , United States Food and Drug AdministrationABSTRACT
The epidemic of type 2 diabetes among children, adolescents and adults is increasing along with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Overweight is the most powerful modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Intake of wholegrain foods may reduce diabetes risk. Three prospective studies in 160000 men and women examined the relationship of whole-grain or cereal-fibre intake with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Each study used a mailed Willett food-frequency questionnaire and similar methods of quantifying wholegrain foods and cereal fibre. The self-reported incident diabetes outcome was more reliably determined in the two studies of health-care professionals than in the study of Iowa women. Risk for incident type 2 diabetes was 21-27% lower for those in the highest quintile of whole-grain intake, and 30-36% lower in the highest quintile of cereal-fibre intake, each compared with the lowest quintile. Risk reduction persisted after adjustment for the healthier lifestyle found among habitual whole-grain consumers. Observations in non-diabetic individuals support an inverse relationship between whole-grain consumption and fasting insulin levels. In feeding studies in non-diabetic individuals insulin resistance was reduced using whole grains or diets rich in whole grains. Glucose control improved with diets rich in whole grains in feeding studies of subjects with type 2 diabetes. There is accumulating evidence to support the hypothesis that whole-grain consumption is associated with a reduced risk of incident type 2 diabetes; it may also improve glucose control in diabetic individuals.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Dietary Fiber/pharmacology , Edible Grain , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Clinical Trials as Topic , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Edible Grain/chemistry , Epidemiologic Studies , Female , Humans , Insulin/blood , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Nutrition scientists in the food industry use nutrition monitoring data in a variety of ways that include developing nutrition communications for consumers and health professionals, guiding product development and reformulation, and applying research applications. Continuous nutrition monitoring is essential to influence positively the nutrient content of the food supply and meet the changing nutrition needs of the population. This article reviews food industry application of nutrient intake information and provides specific examples of use.
