The increasing range of functional foods in response to the consumer demand has reportedly lead the Food and Drug Administration, US, to probe into the nutritional and flavor profile of the foods, followed by a public hearing of industry, consumers and other stakeholders in order to impose stricter label regulations.
However, there are already functional foods in the market with FDA labels, but they are considered safe after the taste-test of ingredients. Still there is growing number of food products with clear labels but crumbling functional claims.
Though it is a late attempt on the part of FDA, yet it is the right move to control the quality of functional foods produced in the food industry and make the consumers more informed in their choices via authentic labeling of functional foods. As far as going by the terminology of functional foods is concerned then there can be no verdict on it for the very reason that food consumption is based on choices and is a matter of relative need rather than a fixed preference.
