03/28/06 Cherry Claims

Cherry claims just pie in the sky? I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Cherries are good for you but don't tell anyone&at least that is message the FDA is sending companies who are currently marketing their cherry based products as health foods. The FDA told 29 companies that by claiming their products could prevent, treat or cure disease, they were in effect calling them drugs. New drugs require FDA approval and testing to confirm safety and effectiveness. The industry has been marketing cherries as health food, trumpeting testimonials from users and research showing cherries contain helpful antioxidants. Since receiving FDA letters last fall, some cherry-product manufacturers have removed  or at least reworded  their health-benefit statements. But consumers still make the connection, and an industry group is continuing a promotional campaign telling consumers that cherries are good for them. One producer complains that one branch of the government says that eating fruit is good for you while the USDA has partially funded studies on the benefits of fruits. Now another government agency says they can't use the research. The most common claims made are that cherries contain potent anticancer agents, can relieve the pain of gout or arthritis, and are beneficial for heart health. In fact, a number of studies exist that point to the health benefits of cherries. These include a University of Texas Health Center study which detected high levels of the anti-oxidant melatonin, functioning as a free-radical scavenger, in tart cherries. But the health claims legislation in the United States is strict: only after a body of evidence to support a health claim for a particular food or ingredient has been submitted, reviewed and approved by the FDA can products carry specific wording about health-promoting properties. So while the battle rages on, there doesn't seem to be any harm in having your cherries and eating them too! That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.