United States: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed food manufacturers to claim that eating yoghurt can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In 2018, Danone North America, the company that owns major food brands such as Dannon, Activia, Wallaby Organic, and Silk, submitted a petition to the FDA. They requested that the FDA acknowledge that they would not object if Danone marketed their yoghurt as a product that can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. The decision was made in response to this petition.
The FDA has confirmed that it will not object to the claim that eating two cups (three servings) of yoghurt per week can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. However, any language addressing consumers must also include a note that the evidence is limited. Additionally, it should be emphasized that the threshold for reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes is consuming two cups of yoghurt per week.
Danone put forward a petition to the FDA for what is known as “qualified health claims,” which is a standard process. The FDA does not need to approve these claims, but companies still petition the FDA to define the specific language they can safely use, without the agency coming after them for making false claims.
The petition highlights yoghurt’s protein, vitamins, and low sodium content, along with studies linking it to diabetes and related conditions. “The petition also noted that the evidence supports the health effects of yoghurt as a food rather than related to any single nutrient or compound and thus is independent of fat or sugar content,” the FDA said.
The nutritional content of yoghurt can vary depending on the type. While low-fat or unsweetened yoghurts can be a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D and low in calories, flavoured yoghurts are often packed with sugar and should be consumed in moderation, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have consistently shown a correlation between excessive sugar consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In 2022, a study found that eating fermented dairy products, especially yoghurt, “may offer protection against the development” of Type 2 diabetes. These findings are evidence to support the health benefits of yoghurt.
Yoghurt is one of the essential components of the Mediterranean diet, which also includes other important staples such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil. According to a study conducted in 2020, following this diet can significantly lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. However, a study conducted in 2016 failed to find any association between dairy consumption and the disease.
During the petition framing process, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian provided scientific feedback to Danone. He commented that, “The FDA’s decision is sensible, given the growing evidence for health benefits of fermented yogurt in particular.”
According to Dr. Mozaffarian, Director of The Food as Medicine Institute at Tufts University, food cannot be marketed as a cure for a disease as it would be considered a drug.
“I think that’s actually a significant problem both for the food industry and the FDA because now that we’re learning that food actually is medicine, and food can, in some cases, treat or cure disease, there’s no regulatory pathway to get there,” Dr. Mozaffarian stated.
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