Market News & Headlines >> FDA Moves to Revoke Soy Protein Heart Health Claim

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday proposed a rule revoking the right of companies to say soy protein protects the heart, while potentially allowing a more circumspect health claim. 

The agency, which to date has never revoked an authorized health claim, said studies published since it authorized the soy protein claim in 1999 had shown inconsistent findings on the relationship between soy protein and heart disease. "Our review of that evidence has led us to conclude that the relationship between soy protein and heart disease does not meet the rigorous standard for an FDA-authorized health claim," Dr. Susan Mayne, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement. 

If its proposed rule is finalized, FDA intends to allow the use of a qualified health claim, which requires a lower scientific standard of evidence than an authorized claim, “as long as there is sufficient evidence to support a link between eating soy protein and a reduced risk of heart disease,” Mayne said. The FDA’s proposed rule will be subject to a 75-day public comment period. 

The American Heart Association has long advocated revoking the soy health claim.