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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it will allow yogurt makers to say the dairy product can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes as more Americans die from the disease and take drugs like Ozempic to fight it. .
According to a letter posted on the regulator’s website, the FDA will allow dairy companies to say that eating yogurt regularly — at least two cups or three servings per week — reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, despite limited scientific evidence. Can reduce.
Activia yogurt maker Danone SA asked the FDA to greenlight the claim in 2018, when the French company noticed that the body of evidence to support it was indeed growing and becoming more compelling, citing Danone’s health and said Amanda Blakeman, director of scientific affairs.
He said any yogurt manufacturer would be able to use the claim on dairy-based yogurt. Danone’s competitors include General Mills, which makes Yoplait, and privately held Chobani.
Although many manufacturers add sugar to yogurt, research has shown that the benefits still apply, “regardless of the amount of sugar or fat,” Blakeman said.
In the letter, the FDA said it is concerned that “use claims on yogurt containing significant amounts of added sugars may contribute empty calories to the diet.” The regulator said it “encourages careful consideration” of whether to use the claim on yogurts that have high amounts of added sugar.
According to FDA guidelines, Yoplait’s single-serve Pina Colada Yogurt has 13 grams (0.5 oz) of added sugar, which is a high percentage for the daily diet. Danone’s Danone Creamy Classic Peach Mango Yogurt has 9 grams (0.3 oz) of added sugar.
Blakeman cited a 2014 study published by researchers in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health that showed higher consumption of yogurt was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, which prompted Danone to apply to the FDA for the claim. Inspired to.
He said Danone’s application to the FDA cites 32 studies to support the claim that yogurt consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is not seen with other types of dairy products. Although Belchman said the studies don’t explain why yogurt reduces disease risk, he said it may be due to the live cultures in the food that ferment the milk.
The company said that of the 32 studies cited in Danone’s application to the FDA, six received at least partial funding from Danone or a related company.
Blakeman said this claim does not apply to non-dairy yogurt made with ingredients like almond, coconut and soy.
Danone is “evaluating how and where to communicate” the new claim in a way that is easy to understand, he said.
The FDA has allowed similar claims for cranberry juice in the past, including reduced chance of frequent urinary tract infections, and limited diabetes risk for whole grains.
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