Phytosterols, health claims, and ‘arbitrary and capricious decision making’
AUGUST: The FDA’s proposal to ban cardiovascular disease risk reduction claims on supplements containing non-esterified or ‘free’ phytosterols took the trade by surprise last December, and not in a good way.
So when the FDA re-opened the comment period in August, critics were quick to respond, and they didn’t mince their words.
Perhaps the most vocal opponent was the Council for Responsible Nutrition, which accused the FDA of putting supplement makers in an “untenable” position with its “arbitrary and capricious” decision-making.
Meanwhile, Benecol maker Raisio was equally upset with the FDA for suggesting that the term ‘phytosterols’ should be adopted as “inclusive of both plant sterols and stanols”.
