§11.3 Food for Special Dietary Uses

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Publication year: 2022

§11.3 Food for Special Dietary Uses

The Commission set standards for foods for special dietary uses in 1985.²³ "Foods for Special Dietary Uses" were defined as, ". . . foods which are specifically processed or formulated to satisfy particularly dietary requirements which exist because of a particular or physiological condition and/or specific diseases and disorders . . ."²⁴

Regarding labeling, the standard required labels for foods for special dietary uses to not be ". . . false, misleading, or deceptive or . . . create an erroneous impression."²⁵ Mandatory information to be included on the labeling includes the name of the food,²⁶ the list of ingredients,²⁷ the amount of energy per 100 ml of food and the grams of protein,²⁸ name and address,²⁹ country of origin,³⁰ lot identification,³¹ and date marking and storage instructions.³²

Claims used in relation to the food for special dietary use must adhere to the General Guidelines on Claims.³³ Notably, claims that state that special dietary food prevents, alleviates, treats, or cures a disease is a prohibited.³⁴

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Notes:

^[23] General Standard for the Labelling and Claims for Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses, CODEX STAN 146-1985 (1985).

^[24] Id. at provision 2.1.

^[25] Id. at provision 3.1.

^[26] Id. at provision 4.1.

^[27] The list of ingredients shall be declared in accordance with Codex General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985).

^[28] Note 23 at provision 4.3.

^[29] To be complied in accordance with General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985).

^[30] Id.

^[31] Id.

^[32] Id.

^[33] CAC/GL 1-1979 (revised 1991).

^[34] Note 23 at provision 5.2.4.