The FDA will hold a meeting to allow public comment on the dietary supplements structure/function claims ruling.  Three controversial issues will be the main topic of discussion.
      According  to the April 29, Federal Register, a structure/function claim may be described as, "the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient intended to affect the structure or function in humans,"  however, it "may not claim to diagnose, mitigate, treat,  cure or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases."  The most recent FDA ruling attempted to clearly defining a disease claim, in order to better clarify structure/function claims.
     One of the three objections to the proposed definition of disease argued whether the FDA should issue a new definition of disease or retain the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA). The second concerned whether certain problems associated with common conditions, such as hot flashes as a result of menopause, should be considered diseases.  The final concern touched upon the issue of implied disease claims.
     For industry input, see the NNFA official legislatvie comments at: www.nnfa.org   
      The meeting will be held on August 4, 1999, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Jefferson Auditorium, Washington DC.