Do supplements have to comply with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act health claim requirements?
A. Yes. When the NLEA passed in 1990, health claims were allowed for the first time on food and supplement labels, but the law required that claims relating a nutrient to a disease condition be supported by “significant scientific agreement” and to be pre-authorized by FDA. An example of such a claim is “calcium reduces the risk of osteoporosis.” These requirements still apply to supplements. However, a presidentially-appointed Commission on Dietary Supplements is reviewing health claim requirements for supplements. The legislation permits a new category of claims called “nutrition support” claims, which do not require FDA pre-authorization. These claims may describe the effect of a dietary supplement on the structure or function of the body, the biological mechanism by which a product acts, and effects on well-being. Q. Does the Act create any new quality standards for manufacturers to meet? A. Yes. If a label claims to meet quality standards such as USP, it must do so. Also, FDA is a
