Understanding What the Three Food Claims Are

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the FDA, label claims fall into specific regulatory categories, providing valuable, yet sometimes confusing, information to consumers. Navigating what the three food claims are—nutrient content, health, and structure/function—is crucial for making informed choices at the grocery store.

Quick Summary

The three types of food claims are nutrient content, health, and structure/function claims. Each is regulated differently by the FDA to inform consumers about a product's nutritional profile and potential health effects.

Key Points

Nutrient Content Claims: Describe the amount of a nutrient using regulated terms like 'low fat' or 'high fiber,' based on specific FDA criteria.
Health Claims: Link a food substance to a reduced disease risk, requiring substantial scientific agreement and FDA approval.
Structure/Function Claims: Explain an ingredient's role in maintaining normal body structures or functions; they do not need FDA pre-approval but must be substantiated.
Regulation Differences: Health claims are the most strictly regulated, while structure/function claims are the least, particularly for conventional foods.
Disclaimers: Qualified health claims and dietary supplement structure/function claims require disclaimers to indicate the level of scientific evidence or lack of FDA evaluation.
Verify Claims: Consumers should use the Nutrition Facts panel to check nutrient claims and be critical of less regulated structure/function claims.

The Three Primary Food Claim Categories

Food labels often contain marketing statements, or “claims,” in addition to the nutrition facts panel. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates these claims on conventional foods and dietary supplements to ensure they are truthful and not misleading. There are three main types of claims: nutrient content claims, health claims, and structure/function claims. Each category has distinct requirements for substantiation and regulation by the FDA, designed to help consumers understand a product's nutritional value and potential health impacts.

1. Nutrient Content Claims

Nutrient content claims describe the level of a nutrient in a food product. These claims use standardized terms defined by the FDA, such as 'free,' 'low,' 'high,' 'good source,' 'excellent source,' 'more,' 'less,' 'reduced,' and 'light'. For a product to use one of these terms, it must meet specific criteria set by the FDA. For instance, 'low-fat' means 3 grams or less of fat per serving, and 'sugar-free' means less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. 'Reduced Fat' signifies at least 25% less fat than the standard product.

Examples of Nutrient Content Claims:

"Low Sodium"
"Excellent Source of Vitamin C"
"Reduced Fat"
"Cholesterol Free"
"Lightly Salted"

2. Health Claims

Health claims describe the relationship between a food substance and a reduced risk of a disease or health-related condition. These claims are heavily regulated and require significant scientific agreement among experts and FDA authorization. The FDA reviews scientific evidence before allowing a health claim. Claims can be 'Authorized,' based on strong evidence, or 'Qualified,' based on less conclusive evidence and requiring a disclaimer. Health claims must only mention risk reduction, not the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, or treatment of a disease.

Examples of FDA-Authorized Health Claims:

"Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure".
"Adequate calcium and vitamin D may reduce the risk of osteoporosis".
"Soluble fiber from foods such as whole oats may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease".
"Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers".

3. Structure/Function Claims

Structure/function claims explain the role of a nutrient or ingredient in affecting the normal structure or function of the body. Unlike health claims, they do not focus on disease risk reduction but rather on general well-being. These claims do not require FDA pre-approval, but manufacturers must have evidence to support them. For dietary supplements, a specific FDA disclaimer is mandatory, stating the claim has not been evaluated and the product is not intended to treat or prevent any disease. Conventional foods with structure/function claims have less stringent regulations, with no required pre-market notification or disclaimer.

Examples of Structure/Function Claims:

"Calcium builds strong bones".
"Fiber maintains bowel regularity".
"Antioxidants help maintain cellular health".
"Supports a healthy immune system".
"Omega-3 fatty acids support brain function".

Comparison of Food Claims


Feature	Nutrient Content Claim	Health Claim	Structure/Function Claim
Regulatory Control	Heavily regulated based on defined criteria.	Heavily regulated; requires FDA review and approval.	Less regulated; requires manufacturer substantiation.
Evidence Level	Standardized nutritional values.	Significant scientific agreement (SSA) required.	Manufacturer substantiation required; less conclusive evidence accepted.
Focus	Level of a nutrient (e.g., 'low fat').	Relationship between a substance and reduced disease risk.	Role in maintaining body functions.
FDA Approval	No specific approval, but must meet criteria.	Yes, requires FDA review (authorized or qualified).	No pre-market approval; supplements require notification and disclaimer.
Examples	"Low sodium," "sugar-free".	"Diets low in saturated fat may reduce heart disease risk."	"Calcium builds strong bones", "Supports the immune system".

Conclusion: Decoding Food Labels for Better Health

Understanding what the three food claims are—nutrient content, health, and structure/function—is essential for making informed dietary choices. Nutrient content claims provide specific nutritional information, health claims link foods to disease risk reduction with scientific backing, and structure/function claims describe a substance's role in body functions. Being aware of the regulations and evidence behind each type allows consumers to critically evaluate product packaging. For comprehensive information on food label claims, consult the FDA's Label Claims website.

Note: A key difference lies in focusing on disease risk reduction (health claims) versus supporting normal body functions (structure/function claims).

Frequently Asked Questions

A health claim links a food to a reduced risk of a disease or health-related condition and requires FDA pre-approval, whereas a structure/function claim describes a nutrient's role in the body's normal functions and does not require FDA pre-approval.

No, the FDA has not defined 'natural' and does not regulate its use as a claim. Its meaning can vary, and it is not one of the three regulated food claims.

According to FDA regulations, a product labeled 'low fat' must contain 3 grams of fat or less per serving.

No, structure/function claims are not pre-approved by the FDA. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the claims are truthful and substantiated, and for dietary supplements, notifying the FDA and including a disclaimer.

Disclaimers are used with qualified health claims and structure/function claims on dietary supplements to clarify that the FDA has not verified the statement and to prevent misleading consumers about the level of scientific evidence.

A company can petition the FDA to authorize a new health claim, but it must be backed by significant scientific evidence and undergo a rigorous review process before it can be used on a product.

You can verify nutrient content claims by checking the Nutrition Facts panel for specific values. For health claims, look for evidence of FDA approval or a qualified disclaimer. Always evaluate structure/function claims with a critical eye, considering they are less regulated.