Yogurt consumption can reduce type 2 diabetes risk: US FDA allows qualified health claim

The FDA, however, adds, "Yogurts that meet the FDA's standard of identity will be allowed to carry qualified health claims provided that they are worded so as not to mislead consumers, and that other factors for the use of the claim are met."

Following a review of the evidence, albeit limited evidence, the FDA said, "There is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes."

A health claim characterizes the relationship between a substance and a disease or health-related condition. A qualified health claim is supported by scientific evidence but does not meet the more rigorous “significant scientific agreement” standard required for an authorized health claim, the FDA stated. The agency has allowed such qualified health claims for dietary supplements since 2000 and food since 2002.

The FDA responded to a qualified health claim petition submitted on behalf of Danone North America requesting the agency to review the use of a qualified health claim concerning the relationship between yogurt consumption and reduced T2D risk for all types of yogurts that meet the FDA’s standard of identity.

The petition also noted that the evidence supports the health effects of yogurt as a food rather than related to any single nutrient or compound and thus is independent of sugar or fat content.

One study published in BMC Medicine in 2014, which supported this claim, showed that everyone serving yogurt per day was incrementally linked with a 17% lower risk for the development of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.83). The same study failed to find a significant association between total dairy consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.

The FDA considers two cups (3 servings) per week of yogurt to be the minimum amount for this qualified health claim.

The letter discusses the factors that the FDA intends to consider in the exercise of its enforcement discretion for the use of a qualified health claim on yogurt and the relationship between the consumption of yogurt and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

The FDA intends to consider exercising its enforcement discretion for the following qualified health claims regarding the relationship between yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes:

• “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. FDA has concluded that there is limited information supporting this claim."
• “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to limited scientific evidence.”