The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a qualified health claim for olive oil. Limited but inconclusive evidence suggests that consumers may reduce their risk of coronary heart disease if they consume monounsaturated fat from olive oil. The claim, which may be placed on product labels, advises consumers: ?To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the number of calories you eat in a day.? This is the third qualified health claim FDA has permitted for conventional food. The others applied to walnuts and omega-3 fatty acids.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXV/number 12/p. 7