Health claim

A health claim on a food label or in food marketing is a statement that states, suggests, or implies a relationship between a food, food component, or dietary supplement and health. For example, manufacturers of oatcereals may claim that oat bran can help reduce cholesterol, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

Some label statements may imply health benefits without making a specific disease-risk or function claim. Other terms, such as nutrient-content, production-method, or composition claims, may be regulated separately from health claims.

Health claims are also made for over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs, medical procedures, and medical devices, but these generally have a separate, much more stringent set of regulations.