FDA reopens comment on trans fatty acid claim

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening to January 19, 2001, the comment period for a document published in the Federal Register of November 17, 1999 (64 FR 62746). In that document, FDA proposed to amend its regulations on nutrition labelling to require that the amount of trans fatty acids present in a food, including dietary supplements, be included in the amount and percent Daily Value declared for saturated fatty acids. FDA also proposed that, wherever saturated fat limits are placed on nutrient content claims, health claims, or disclosure or disqualifying levels, the amount of trans fatty acids be limited as well. Finally, FDA proposed to define the nutrient content claim "trans fat free." FDA is taking this action in response to comments on the November 17, 1999, proposal to ensure that interested parties have an adequate opportunity to comment on the issue of whether the agency should define the nutrient content claims "reduced trans fat" and "reduced saturated and trans fats." For more information, see the Federal Register of December 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 234).