USA: FDA approves barley health claim

Some good news to barley growers was reported this week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Grains Council posted in its Global Update on December 23.

The FDA announced on December 22, that they will be publishing the final interim rule for the National Barley Food Council, health claim that barley consumption can help reduce coronary heart disease.

The rule, published on Friday, Dec. 23, states that “in addition to certain oat products, whole grain barley and certain dry milled barley grain products are appropriate sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber for the health claim.

The National Barley Foods Council submitted a health claim petition to the FDA in 2004 requesting that the FDA amend the “soluble fiber from certain foods and coronary heart disease health claim” to include barley and barley products as an additional source of beta-glucan soluble fiber eligible for the health claim.

The interim final rule allows barley-containing foods to be labeled with the health claim prior to publication of a final rule.

Barley listed as eligible sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber include whole grain barley (dehulled or hulless), and certain dry milled barley products, i.e., pearl, flakes, grits, meal, flour, beta-glucan enriched meal fractions and bran.

“This is really exciting news and the culmination of much hard work,” said Dan Mader, chairman of the Idaho Barley Commission and National Barley Foods Council board member. “Today’s announcement paves the way to begin promoting the health benefits of barley foods, particularly in Asian markets like Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, where there has been keen interest in our new barley varieties and food products with the beneficial beta-glucan fiber.

23 December, 2005