The petition for such a claim, filed by American Longevity, was first submitted in January 2004. A decision was initially expected on December 24, 2004.
However, since mid-December the agency has requested six extensions, and its decision is now not expected until November 11, 2005.
The health claims is one of eight pending qualified health claims for which the underresourced agency has asked for extensions.
"Obviously, we are disappointed that the FDA has already delayed us by 22 months in getting this important health information out to the general public," said Steve Wallach of American Longevity.
American Longevity and other companies are currently signatures on a petition to Congress demanding legislative reform between now and January 2006 to remedy the situation.
The campaigners believe that the FDA's current health claim policies amount to 'censorship' of information on the effects of nutrients on disease.
The petition may be downloaded from the company's website .
Last month, four representatives of a coalition of 28 dietary supplement companies, public interest groups and supplement distributors gained the backing of the Liberty Caucus, comprised of 24 members of Congress, which has endorsed the initiative and is expected to co-sponsor a bill to open the marketplace to accurate nutrient-disease information.
