Understanding Your Nutrition Diet: What is a claim on food?

October 17, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are three main categories of claims defined by statute and/or regulations that can be used on food labels: health claims, nutrient content claims, and structure/function claims. Understanding what is a claim on food? is crucial for navigating the often-confusing world of product marketing and making smart decisions for your personal nutrition diet.

Quick Summary

This article explains the different types of claims found on food packaging, including nutrient content, health, and structure/function claims. It details regulatory requirements and provides strategies for interpreting marketing messages to make informed food choices for a healthier diet.

Key Points

Three Main Types: Food claims are classified into nutrient content, health, and structure/function claims, each with specific regulatory requirements.
FDA vs. FTC: The FDA regulates food labels, including claim definitions, while the FTC handles the truthfulness of food advertising.
Beyond the Claim: Always verify front-of-package claims by checking the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient list for a complete and accurate picture of a food's nutritional value.
Avoid the 'Health Halo': Be cautious of products that use one positive claim to create a general impression of healthiness, even if the product is otherwise unhealthy.
Claims are Voluntary: All food claims are voluntary marketing tools; their absence does not necessarily mean a product is unhealthy.
Mandatory Disclaimers: Structure/function claims, which describe a nutrient's effect on bodily function, must include a disclaimer that the claim has not been evaluated by the FDA.
Use for Comparison: The most effective use of claims is to compare similar products to find the best nutritional option within a specific category, such as comparing two different brands of low-fat yogurt.

Decoding Food Claims: A Guide to Informed Nutrition

Food labels and marketing can be powerful tools, both for consumers seeking healthier options and for companies looking to promote their products. However, without a clear understanding of the rules and meanings behind these voluntary statements, it's easy to be misled. A claim on food is any representation that states, suggests, or implies a food has particular nutritional properties. These are governed by regulatory bodies to ensure they are truthful and not misleading, but the responsibility to interpret them correctly ultimately falls on the consumer.

Nutrient Content Claims

Nutrient content claims are statements that describe the level of a nutrient contained in a food product. They help consumers understand the product's nutritional profile at a glance. For a manufacturer to use a specific term, the food must meet the precise criteria set by the governing authority, such as the FDA.

Common examples of nutrient content claims include:

Free: Contains the least possible amount of the specified nutrient. For example, "fat-free" means less than 0.5g of fat per serving.
Low: The food contains a small amount of the nutrient. For instance, a "low-sodium" product has 140mg or less of sodium per serving.
Reduced/Less: The food contains at least 25% less of a nutrient compared to the regular version of that product.
High/Excellent Source: The food contains 20% or more of the Daily Value (DV) for a specific nutrient per serving.
Good Source: The food contains 10–19% of the Daily Value (DV) for a nutrient per serving.

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 strictly regulated and must be backed by substantial scientific evidence. In the U.S., a manufacturer must receive approval from the FDA, demonstrating "significant scientific agreement" to substantiate the claim. There are two main types of health claims:

Authorized Health Claims: These are supported by the highest level of scientific evidence and require a regulation from the FDA. An example is: "Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease".
Qualified Health Claims: These are supported by less scientific evidence. They require FDA approval and must be accompanied by an agency-approved disclaimer that clarifies the level of scientific support.

Structure/Function Claims

Structure/function claims describe the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient in affecting the normal structure or function of the human body. Unlike health claims, these do not require pre-market approval from the FDA. However, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring the claim is truthful and not misleading. The FDA must be notified within 30 days of the product's marketing, and the product label must include a mandatory disclaimer stating that the statement has not been evaluated by the FDA and the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. A classic example is: "Calcium builds strong bones".

Who Regulates Food Claims?

In the United States, several agencies share the responsibility for regulating food labeling and advertising to protect consumers from misleading information:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA regulates the content of food labels, setting the criteria for nutrient content claims, and approving authorized health claims. Their oversight ensures that the information provided is accurate and based on scientific consensus.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC focuses on the marketing and advertising of food products, ensuring that claims made in promotions are not deceptive or unfair to consumers. While the FDA handles the labels, the FTC handles the ads.

A Comparison of Food Claim Types


Claim Type	Purpose	Regulatory Requirement (USA)	Example	Key Feature
Nutrient Content	To state the specific amount or level of a nutrient in the food.	Must adhere to strict FDA-defined criteria for terms like "low" or "high."	"Low sodium", "High in fiber"	Quantitative statement
Health	To link a food or nutrient to a reduced risk of a disease or health condition.	Requires significant scientific agreement and FDA approval. Includes a disclaimer for qualified claims.	"Oatmeal helps reduce cholesterol."	Implies a health benefit
Structure/Function	To describe the role of a nutrient in a normal bodily function.	Manufacturer must have substantiation and notify FDA; includes a mandatory disclaimer.	"Calcium builds strong bones."	Describes a normal bodily role
Implied	Claims that suggest or imply a nutritional value, like the term "healthy."	Must meet specific FDA-defined criteria regarding levels of fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.	"Healthy"	Characterizes a food's overall profile

How to Critically Read Food Claims

Making sense of food claims requires more than just a quick glance. Being an informed consumer means looking beyond the front-of-package marketing.

Start with the Nutrition Facts Panel: This is the most reliable source of information. The claims on the front of the package should be verified here. Pay attention to serving sizes, calories, and key nutrients like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
Focus on the % Daily Value (%DV): Use the %DV to see if a product is a good source of a nutrient you want (aim for 10-19% DV) or one you want to limit (aim for 5% DV or less).
Read the Ingredient List: Ingredients are listed by weight in descending order. This helps you identify if the first few ingredients are high in fat, salt, or sugar, regardless of the claims.
Be Aware of the 'Health Halo': Some products use positive claims like "low fat" to create a misleading impression of overall healthiness. A "low fat" cookie, for instance, could still be very high in sugar and calories.
Use Claims for Comparison: Use claims as a guide to compare similar products. For example, comparing the "low sodium" versions of different soups can help you choose the best option.
Recognize Unregulated Claims: Terms like "natural" or "wholesome" are often unregulated and lack a standard definition. Don't rely on these vague terms when making dietary choices.

Conclusion: Becoming a Savvy Shopper

In the end, a nutrition diet is about more than just reading labels; it's about understanding the context behind the marketing messages. Learning what is a claim on food and what it legally entails empowers you to look past marketing hype and focus on the hard facts presented on the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient list. This knowledge is an invaluable tool for making healthier decisions, avoiding misleading products, and building a foundation for a truly healthy dietary pattern.

For more detailed information on US food labeling regulations, refer to the FDA's official guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

A nutrient content claim describes the specific level of a nutrient (e.g., 'low fat'), while a health claim describes a relationship between a food substance and a reduced risk of a disease (e.g., 'may reduce the risk of heart disease').

Not necessarily. A claim highlights a specific aspect of a product's nutritional profile, but it does not guarantee overall healthiness. A "low fat" food could still be high in sugar or sodium.

While many claims are regulated by the FDA and FTC, some vague terms like "natural" or "wholesome" are not strictly defined and may not be regulated under specific criteria.

The 'Health Halo' effect is when consumers perceive a product as healthier than it is, simply because of a single positive claim, such as being "fat-free." This can lead to misleading dietary choices.

Structure/function claims describe a nutrient's role in the body's normal functions, like "calcium builds strong bones." They are often identifiable by a mandatory disclaimer that states the FDA has not evaluated the claim.

Disclaimers are required for 'qualified health claims' because they are supported by less scientific evidence than 'authorized health claims.' The disclaimer informs the consumer of the varying level of scientific support.

The most reliable and accurate nutrition information is found on the mandatory Nutrition Facts panel on the back or side of the food package, not from the marketing claims on the front.