On June 2, 2020, Claudia Lewis was quoted in Milling & Baking News on food, beverage, and dietary supplement products that promote claims related to the coronavirus.
As of May 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had sent 56 warning letters to companies that suggested their products treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19, said Lewis. If a company promotes a food or ingredient for preventing, treating, or curing a disease, the FDA will consider the food or ingredient misclassified, because it should be classified as a drug.
Immunity claims are a safer option for food, beverage, and dietary supplement companies, but Lewis noted caveats on those claims as well.
"You could talk about supporting the immune system, maintaining the immune system, nourishing the immune system," she said. Some food, beverage, and dietary supplement companies are promoting products containing probiotics, prebiotics, vitamin C, and other immune-supporting ingredients. "Those types of claims are permissible and still allow you to remain as a food."
However, using the term "immune boosting" could cause problems. "The Federal Trade Commission has serious questions about whether products actually do boost the immune system as opposed to support it," Lewis said.
Click here to access the article.