Soy Health Claims Considered

WASHINGTON—Soy packaging may soon tout soy protein's heart health benefits. FDA in November proposed allowing health claims on the labels of foods containing soy protein. If approved, soy products labels could then say soy may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

"This is a big boost for all soy companies," says James Terman, vice president of pictures and words at Boulder, Colo.-based White Wave. "The FDA [endorsement] means a lot on the supermarket shelf. It will bring more people to soy in the natural foods stores and in the mainstream markets."

In proposing the health claim, FDA concluded that foods containing soy protein as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Soy protein appears to alter the synthesis and metabolism of cholesterol in the liver. Studies show 25 g of soy protein per day have a February cholesterol-lowering effect.

If the claim is approved, foods containing 6.25 g of soy (one-quarter of the daily amount needed for benefit) will be eligible to have the health claim on their labels.

FDA collected comments on the proposed regulation through Jan. 25. Once the input is evaluated, the proposal will either be approved or altered and published for additional comment.