Barley products can claim heart benefits: FDA 12-2005
http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/2006/ucm108657.htm
FDA Finalizes Health Claim
Associating Consumption of Barley Products with Reduction of Risk of Coronary
Heart Disease
Today the Food and Drug Administration announced that it has finalized a rule
that allows foods containing barley to claim that they reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease. Specifically, whole grain barley and dry milled barley
products such as flakes, grits, flour, and pearled barley, which provide at
least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving, may bear the following claim:
"Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving
of [name of food] supplies [x] grams of the soluble fiber necessary per day to
have this effect."
Coronary heart disease claims nearly half a million lives a year. High total
cholesterol levels and high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
are known to increase one's risk for heart disease, so consumers are encouraged
to keep these levels as low as possible. Scientific evidence indicates that
including barley in a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of coronary heart
disease by lowering LDL and total cholesterol levels.
"FDA is pursuing new initiatives to help consumers improve the choices they have
for healthy and nutritious diets," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Scott Gottlieb,
M.D. "We firmly believe that one of the best ways to encourage healthier eating
habits is to help consumers get truthful, up-to-date, science-based information
about food products so that they can make choices that are based on a better
understanding of the health consequences of their diets."
FDA began allowing the claim in December 2005 under an interim final rule, while
at the same time accepting public comments on the rule for 75 days. During this
time no comments were received that warranted changes to the interim final rule