FDA Rejects Health Claim for Green Tea

**Proverbs** · 05-10-2006, 04:39 PM

By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 9, 9:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON - There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease, federal regulators said Tuesday in rejecting a petition that sought to allow tea labels to make that claim.

The Food and Drug Administration said it reviewed 105 articles and other publications submitted as part of the petition but could find no evidence to support claims of the beverage's health benefits.

"FDA concludes there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD" or cardiovascular disease, Barbara O. Schneeman, director of the agency's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, wrote in a letter denying the petition. The FDA posted the letter to its Web site Tuesday.

Ito En Ltd., a Japanese company that bills itself as the world's largest green tea company, and its U.S. subsidiary, Ito En (North America) Inc., petitioned the FDA in June 2005, seeking to make the claim that drinking at least five ounces of green tea a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.

A message left for a spokesman for Ito En (North America) Inc. was not immediately returned late Tuesday. A message left for the AAC Consulting Group, a Rockville, Md. company that filed the actual petition, also was not immediately returned.

Green tea is brewed from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, also known as Thea sinensis. Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea is made from unfermented tea leaves.

The FDA previously has said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate or any other type of cancer risk.

Nonetheless, the belief that drinking green tea confers health benefits has driven its popularity over the last decade, the Tea Association of the United States has said.

A health claim, in the language of the FDA, characterizes the relationship between a substance and a reduction in the risk of contracting a particular disease.

**skelooth** · 05-10-2006, 04:59 PM

Since when did anyone thing green tea reduced risk of heart disease anyway?

Very misleading article...

**Proverbs** · 05-10-2006, 05:04 PM

lol .. no kidding .. no wonder the claims were rejected.

**skelooth** · 05-10-2006, 05:11 PM

I think i'm going to go have some green tea just to be spiteful now :hyper2:

I think I'll submit a health claim to the FDA that eating popcorn can prevent hair loss in men.

**Grunt76** · 05-10-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

I think i'm going to go have some green tea just to be spiteful now :hyper2:

I think I'll submit a health claim to the FDA that eating popcorn can prevent hair loss in men.

ROFL

EliteBSU · 06-20-2006, 11:04 PM

Sarge: Aww you know Donut is impressionable, He'd eat dirt if you told him it tasted like choclolate.
Donut: THATS NOT TRUE!
Sarge: Thats where you draw the line?
Donut: No, its not true that dirt tastes like chocolate, IS IT?

Ahhh, good ol' Red Vs. Blue

05-10-2006, 04:39 PM	#1
Proverbs Mr. Warm & Easy Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,296 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 226	FDA Rejects Health Claim for Green Tea By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer Tue May 9, 9:22 PM ET WASHINGTON - There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease, federal regulators said Tuesday in rejecting a petition that sought to allow tea labels to make that claim. The Food and Drug Administration said it reviewed 105 articles and other publications submitted as part of the petition but could find no evidence to support claims of the beverage's health benefits. "FDA concludes there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD" or cardiovascular disease, Barbara O. Schneeman, director of the agency's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, wrote in a letter denying the petition. The FDA posted the letter to its Web site Tuesday. Ito En Ltd., a Japanese company that bills itself as the world's largest green tea company, and its U.S. subsidiary, Ito En (North America) Inc., petitioned the FDA in June 2005, seeking to make the claim that drinking at least five ounces of green tea a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. A message left for a spokesman for Ito En (North America) Inc. was not immediately returned late Tuesday. A message left for the AAC Consulting Group, a Rockville, Md. company that filed the actual petition, also was not immediately returned. Green tea is brewed from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, also known as Thea sinensis. Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea is made from unfermented tea leaves. The FDA previously has said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate or any other type of cancer risk. Nonetheless, the belief that drinking green tea confers health benefits has driven its popularity over the last decade, the Tea Association of the United States has said. A health claim, in the language of the FDA, characterizes the relationship between a substance and a reduction in the risk of contracting a particular disease.

05-10-2006, 04:59 PM	#2
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,042 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 162	Since when did anyone thing green tea reduced risk of heart disease anyway? Very misleading article... __________________

05-10-2006, 05:11 PM	#4
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 8,042 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 162	I think i'm going to go have some green tea just to be spiteful now :hyper2: I think I'll submit a health claim to the FDA that eating popcorn can prevent hair loss in men. __________________

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05-10-2006, 05:04 PM	#3
Proverbs Mr. Warm & Easy Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,296 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 226	lol .. no kidding .. no wonder the claims were rejected.

06-20-2006, 11:04 PM	#6
EliteBSU IMPC Contestant Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota Posts: 454 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 60	Sarge: Aww you know Donut is impressionable, He'd eat dirt if you told him it tasted like choclolate. Donut: THATS NOT TRUE! Sarge: Thats where you draw the line? Donut: No, its not true that dirt tastes like chocolate, IS IT? Ahhh, good ol' Red Vs. Blue