In response to a petition submitted by food and beverage leader Danone North America, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first-ever qualified health claim for yogurt, recognizing a potential link between its regular consumption and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and giving consumers another compelling reason to shop the yogurt aisle.
The new claim in its entirety states, "Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to limited scientific evidence." This announcement is nearly five years in the making, during which time the FDA reviewed the existing research on yogurt and type 2 diabetes, which included data from over 300,000 individuals, and found including yogurt in the typical American diet could have a benefit to public health.
"We know that a growing body of research suggests regular yogurt consumption could reduce your risk of developing one of the most significant and rapidly rising health ailments in the United States," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., vice president of health and scientific affairs at Danone North America. "That's why we decided to submit a petition for this first-of-its-kind qualified health claim. Our hope is that this announcement will empower consumers with simple, actionable information they can use to help lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through a realistic, easy-to-make dietary modification."
Diabetes is one of the top 10 causes of death in the US, impacting more than 37 million Americans with 1.4 million new cases diagnosed every year. The overwhelming majority of these cases are type 2 diabetes, the risk for which can often be managed with lifestyle changes such as being more active and eating nutrient-rich foods. Based on this new qualified health claim, yogurt could be one of those foods.
And the benefits of yogurt don't stop there. In addition to potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, yogurt is included as part of a healthy dietary pattern, and nutrients commonly found in yogurt, like calcium, vitamin D and protein are associated with bone and muscle health. Calcium and vitamin D are also identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as two nutrients critical for health but often under-consumed.
