Final answer:
The FDA allows a food company to make a health claim on their food label if the claim is scientifically supported and not misleading. The claimed relationship between a food substance and a health-related condition must be supported by credible scientific evidence, and labels must comply with FDA regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits a food company to make a health claim on their food label, the condition that must hold is that the claim is scientifically supported and not misleading. Health claims on food labels must be precise and based on significant scientific agreement. This means that the claimed relationship between a food substance and a disease or health-related condition must be supported by credible scientific evidence. The FDA strongly regulates these health claims to ensure that consumers are not misled about the health benefits of a product. Labels making claims about reducing the risk of disease must comply with established FDA regulations, and any food claiming to have a specific health benefit must have data to back it up before it can be legally marketed with that claim.
When it comes to dietary supplements, the FDA does regulate them, but they are treated more like food products than pharmaceuticals. Supplement manufacturers can make certain claims regarding a product's ability to affect the structure or function of the body, but these claims are not approved by the FDA and must include a disclaimer that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." This ensures that consumers are aware that the statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Furthermore, the use of color additives in food and cosmetics must be preapproved by the FDA and meet rigorous safety standards.