Understanding What is Considered a Nutritional Claim? A Guide to Smarter Eating

October 18, 2025 •

3 min read

According to regulatory bodies, a nutritional claim is any representation that states, suggests, or implies a food has particular beneficial nutritional properties. This guide will help you understand what is considered a nutritional claim and how to decipher them for a healthier diet.

Quick Summary

Nutritional claims are voluntary statements on food products that signal specific nutrient levels or health benefits. These are categorized into nutrient content, health, and structure/function claims, each with specific regulatory requirements and consumer implications.

Key Points

Nutritional claims are voluntary: They differ from mandatory Nutrition Facts panels and are used for marketing to suggest beneficial properties.
Three main types exist: Nutrient content claims describe the quantity of a nutrient; health claims link a nutrient to a disease risk reduction; and structure/function claims describe a nutrient's role in the body.
Claims are regulated: Government bodies like the FDA enforce standards to ensure claims are truthful and consistent, though the level of scrutiny varies by claim type.
Beware of misleading terms: Words like "Natural" and "Multigrain" are often unregulated and can be deceptive; always cross-reference with the nutrition panel and ingredient list.
Verify with the Nutrition Facts panel: For accurate comparison, read the per 100g column on the Nutrition Information Panel, as serving sizes vary between products.
Seek reliable sources for health information: Consult official health bodies like the WHO and FDA to evaluate the credibility of scientific evidence supporting health claims.

What is a Nutritional Claim?

While every food product with a Nutrition Facts panel lists its nutrient content, a nutritional claim is a voluntary, explicit statement made by a manufacturer on a label or in advertising. This distinguishes it from the mandatory nutrition information and aims to highlight a product's beneficial properties. To ensure these claims are not misleading, they must adhere to specific, regulated criteria. This regulation helps ensure that terms like "low-fat" or "high-fiber" have consistent meaning across different products and brands.

The Three Main Categories of Nutritional Claims

Nutritional claims are divided into three principal categories, each with distinct rules governing their use. A smart consumer understands the differences between these to evaluate food purchases critically.

1. Nutrient Content Claims

These claims characterize the level of a specific nutrient in a food, and they must meet standardized definitions set by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Examples include "Low-fat" (3 grams or less of fat per serving) or "High-fiber" (5 grams or more of fiber per serving). Other examples include "Sugar-free" (less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving) and "Good source of iron" (10% to 19% of the Daily Value for iron per serving).

2. Health Claims

Health claims describe a relationship between a food substance and a reduced risk of a disease or a health-related condition. These are highly regulated and require significant scientific agreement for approval. Examples of FDA-approved health claims include statements about diets low in sodium reducing the risk of high blood pressure or diets rich in whole grains reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers.

3. Structure/Function Claims

Structure/function claims describe the role of a nutrient or ingredient in affecting the normal structure or function of the human body. They cannot mention or refer to a specific disease and do not require FDA pre-approval, but must be truthful. For dietary supplements, a disclaimer is required: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Examples include "Calcium builds strong bones" and "Fiber maintains bowel regularity".

Decoding Misleading or Meaningless Claims

Many food labels use terms that can be confusing or misleading. Reading the full nutrition facts panel and ingredient list is crucial to avoid being misled by terms like "Natural" or "100% Natural Ingredients," which are not strictly regulated. Other potentially misleading terms include "Made with real fruit" (which may have minimal fruit content), "Multigrain" (doesn't guarantee whole grains), and "Lightly sweet" (a subjective term).

Comparison of Nutritional Claim Types


Feature	Nutrient Content Claim	Health Claim	Structure/Function Claim
Regulatory Requirement	Meets specific, quantitative criteria set by regulatory bodies (e.g., FDA).	Requires significant scientific agreement and often pre-approval by regulatory bodies.	Does not require pre-approval but must be truthful and not misleading; dietary supplements need a specific disclaimer.
Focus	The level or amount of a nutrient (e.g., fat, fiber, sugar) in the food.	The link between a nutrient and reduced risk of a specific disease or condition.	The role of a nutrient in supporting the body's normal structure or function.
Example	"Low sodium".	"A healthy diet low in saturated and trans fat may reduce the risk of heart disease".	"Calcium builds strong bones".

How to Evaluate and Verify Claims

To become a more informed consumer, rely on more than just claims. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel for standardized data and compare per-100g or per-100ml values due to varying serving sizes. Scrutinize the Ingredient List, as ingredients are listed by weight. For health claims, check for scientific evidence from credible sources like the FDA or WHO. Be wary of vague buzzwords that lack legal definitions.

Conclusion

Understanding what is considered a nutritional claim is key to making informed dietary choices. By recognizing the different categories of claims and verifying them with the Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient list, and reliable scientific sources, consumers can navigate food labeling effectively and make purchases that align with their health goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

A nutrient content claim describes the level of a specific nutrient in a food, such as "low fat" or "high fiber". A health claim, however, links a food or its components to a reduced risk of a disease, like calcium intake's effect on osteoporosis risk.

No, the term "natural" is not strictly defined or regulated by bodies like the FDA and does not guarantee that a product is healthier or free from processed ingredients.

Not all. While regulated health claims require significant scientific agreement and approval, structure/function claims do not and must carry a disclaimer for dietary supplements. Some vague marketing terms also lack scientific backing.

To be certain, check the Nutrition Facts panel for the amount of fat per serving and compare it to the total calorie count and sugar content. Manufacturers sometimes add sugar to low-fat products to improve the taste.

Dietary supplements do not require FDA approval for structure/function claims but must include a disclaimer that the FDA has not evaluated the statement. Health claims on supplements are regulated similarly to those on conventional foods and require pre-approval.

A structure/function claim describes how a nutrient affects the normal structure or function of the body, for example, "calcium builds strong bones." It differs from a health claim because it does not link the nutrient to a disease or health-related condition.

Yes, a food product can carry multiple claims, provided it meets the specific regulatory criteria for each one. For instance, a product could have a nutrient content claim like "high in fiber" and a general health claim related to the effect of fiber on digestive health.