FDA Finalizes Health Claim for Consumption of Barley Products

ROCKVILLE, Md.—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA.gov) announced it has finalized a rule allowing foods containing barley to claim they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Specifically, whole grain barley and dry milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour and pearled barley, which provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving, may bear the following claim:

"Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of food] supplies [x] grams of the soluble fiber necessary per day to have this effect."

"FDA is pursuing new initiatives to help consumers improve the choices they have for healthy and nutritious diets," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. "We firmly believe that one of the best ways to encourage healthier eating habits is to help consumers get truthful, up-to-date, science-based information about food products so that they can make choices that are based on a better understanding of the health consequences of their diets."