Food Labeling: Health Claims; Dietary Sugar Alcohols and Dental Caries

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing its decision to amend the regulation that authorizes a health claim on sugar alcohols and dental caries to include the sugar alcohol erythritol among the substances that may be the subject of the claim. Based on its review of evidence submitted with a comment on the proposal, and the evidence described in the proposal, the agency has concluded that there is significant scientific agreement that erythritol does not promote dental caries. Therefore, FDA has decided to amend the sugar alcohol and dental caries health claim to include erythritol. FDA is announcing this action in response to a petition filed by the Cerestar Holding B.V., Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., and Nikken Chemicals Co. (the petitioners).