Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Food labeling: health claims; soluble dietary fiber from certain foods and coronary heart disease

Food labeling: health claims; soluble dietary fiber from certain foods and coronary heart disease. December 23, 2005[Federal Register: (Volume 70, Number 246)][Page 76150-76162][DOCID:fr23de05-6][[Page 76150]]21 CFR Part 101[Docket No. 2004P-0512]AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.ACTION: Interim final rule.SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulation authorizing a health claim on the relationship between oat beta-glucan soluble fiber and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The amendment adds barley as an additional eligible source of beta-glucan soluble fiber. We (FDA) are taking this action in response to a petition that the National Barley Foods Council submitted. We have concluded, based on the totality of publicly available scientific evidence that, in addition to certain oat products, whole grain barley and certain dry milled barley grain products are appropriate sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber for the health claim. DATES: This interim final rule is effective December 23, 2005. Submit written or electronic comments by March 8, 2006. The Director of the Office of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of certain publications in 21 CFR 101.81(c)(2)(ii)(A)(5) as of December 23, 2005.