On September 8, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the availability of a qualified health claim for a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) that can be placed on conventional foods that contain eicosaentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids.

A qualified health claim on a conventional food must be supported by credible scientific evidence. Because the research related to this claim is promising yet not conclusive, FDA has approved the following qualified health claim:

Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of [name of food] provides [x] grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol content.]

In 2000, FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and the reduced risk of CHD. FDA recommends that consumers’ intakes not exceed more than a total of 3 grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids per day, with no more than 2 grams per day from a dietary supplement. For marine sources of omega-3 fatty acids and the amount of omega-3 fatty acids per serving, visit the IFIC Web site at http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/fishbroch.cfm.

The qualified health claim for foods containing EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids is the second qualified health claim that FDA has announced for a conventional food; nut consumption and a reduced risk of CHD was the first. For additional information about qualified health claims, visit http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lab-qhc.html.