Manual of Clinical Nutrition Management A- 10 Copyright © 2013 Compass Group, Inc.
FOOD FORTIFICATION AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
POSITION OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS*
“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA)* that the best nutritional strategy for promoting
optimal health and reducing the risk of chronic disease is to wisely choose a wide variety of foods. Additional
vitamins and minerals from fortified foods and/or supplements can help some people meet their nutritional
needs as specified by science-based nutrition standards such as the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) (1,2).”
Recommendations regarding supplementation and the therapeutic use of vitamins and minerals for
treating specific conditions may be found in the corresponding sections of this manual. The latest
recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board for the first time include recommendations that
supplements or fortified foods be used to obtain desirable amounts of some nutrients, eg, folic acid and
calcium, in certain population groups.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, manufacturers must adhere to
restrictions regarding the types of claims that are allowed on product labels. Statements regarding the
efficacy of specific products in the treatment or prevention of particular conditions are prohibited. A claim
statement is allowed if the “statement claims a benefit related to a classical nutrient deficiency disease and
discloses the prevalence of such disease in the United States, describes the role of a nutrient or dietary
ingredient intended to affect the structure or function in humans, characterizes the documented mechanism
by which a nutrient or dietary ingredient acts to maintain such structure or function, or describes general
well-being from consumption of a nutrient or dietary ingredient (1).”
The manufacturer must specify that the claims are truthful and not misleading. The following statement
must also accompany any claims, “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease (1)”. In addition,
all supplements must have the identity and strength of contents listed on the label, and meet appropriate
specifications for quality, purity and composition ( 3 ).
*The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is now known as The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
References
- Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrient Supplementation. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 ; 10 9 : 2073 - 2085.
- Position of the American Dietetic Association: Functional foods. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109: 735-746.
- Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Public Law (S.784)(1994)(codified at 42 USC 287C-11).