Final answer:
The FDA does not provide a strict definition for functional foods, making the statement False. The FDA regulates food and dietary supplement claims but treats them differently than pharmaceuticals, without a formal classification for functional foods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the FDA provides a strict definition for functional foods is False. The FDA regulates food and dietary supplements but does not offer a strict definition for functional foods. Instead, it establishes guidelines for claims made about the health benefits of foods and dietary supplements. Functional foods are those that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as reducing the risk of disease or promoting optimal health. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognizes conventional foods, modified foods, medical foods, and special dietary use foods as types of functional foods.
The regulation of these claims is less strict than that for pharmaceuticals, as evidenced by the requirement for supplements to carry a disclaimer saying the products are not intended "to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." However, the FDA does oversee the quality of substances sold as food in the United States and monitors labeling claims about both composition and health benefits.
Therefore, while the concept of functional foods is acknowledged and certain claims are regulated, the FDA does not have a strict, formal classification for functional foods.