Food Labeling: Health Claims; Plant Sterol/Stanol Esters and Coronary Heart Disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to July 25, 2001, the period for issuance of a final rule in response to its interim final rule of September 8, 2000, entitled "Food Labeling: Health Claims; Plant Sterol/Stanol Esters and Coronary Heart Disease." FDA's regulations require the agency to issue a notice of such extension if it finds, for cause, that it is unable to issue a final rule within 270 days from the date of publication of the interim final rule. The complexity of the issues raised by the comments to the interim final rule and the lack of agency resources to complete the final rule within the specified 270 days have persuaded the agency of the need to extend the deadline to publish the final rule.