On December 18, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new initiative to make available more and better information about foods and dietary supplements that could help American consumers reduce their risk of diseases and improve their health by making sound dietary decisions.

The Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition Initiative is designed to foster two complementary goals concerning the labeling of food and dietary supplements: to encourage makers of conventional foods and dietary supplements to make accurate, science-based claims about the health benefits of their products, and to help eliminate bogus labeling claims by challenging those dietary supplement marketers who make false or misleading claims. The initiative consists of three related actions: issuing guidance on qualified health claims for conventional foods and dietary supplements, strengthening enforcement of dietary supplement rules, and establishing an FDA Task Force on Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition chaired by Deputy Commissioner Lester Crawford. “Such labeling can help empower consumers to make smart, healthy choices about the foods that they buy and consume,” Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.

The FDA Press Release (December 18, 2002) may be accessed at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00859.html.