118 Nutrition & Wellness for Life Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. • Health Claims. Besides claims about nutrient content, manufacturers may put certain health claims on product labels. These claims are based on research showing solid evidence of links between foods or nutrients and diseases. For instance, a yogurt container might include a claim about the link between calcium and a reduced risk of osteoporosis. The most frequently made health claims are related to heart disease. Claims cannot state that a certain food prevents or causes a disease, only that it may reduce risk for the disease. In some instances, the claim may need to include the amount of the benefi cial food or nutrient that is supplied by the product. Health claims must be reviewed and evaluated by the FDA before they can be used on labels. The FDA approves a health claim only if it fi nds “signifi cant scientifi c agreement (SSA)” to support the claim. • Qualifi ed Health Claims. Similar to health claims, qualifi ed health claims suggest a link between a food or nutrient and its ability to reduce risk for a disease or health condition. Qualifi ed health claims do not require scientifi c support as strong as a health claim requires, but these claims include a disclaimer to that effect. The following statement is an example of a qualifi ed health claim that includes the disclaimer in the second sentence: “Green tea may reduce the risk of breast or prostate cancer. The FDA has concluded that there is very little scientifi c evidence for this claim.” Truthful dietary guidance statements that are not deceptive do not require review and approval from the FDA before being used on a label. If the FDA decides the statement is misleading, however, its use may be disallowed (Figure 5.10). • Structure/Function Claims. A fourth type of claim found on food labels is a structure/function claim. A structure/function claim describes the effect that a food or nutrient has on the structure or function of the body. This type of claim differs from health and qualifi ed health claims because it does not reference a disease or health condition. An example of a structure/function claim is “Calcium (the nutrient) builds strong bones (the body structure).” Figure 5.10 Food manufacturers include claims on their food labels to market their products. What type of claim is on this oatmeal package? Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com