United States of America. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed allowing health claims about the role soy protein may have in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease on the labels and labelling of foods containing soy protein.

The FDA concluded that foods containing protein from the soybean as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. The amino acid content in soy protein is different from animal and most other vegetable proteins, and appears to alter the synthesis and metabolism of cholesterol in the liver. To qualify for the claims, the food product must provide 25 grams of soy protein per day.

[See also Pharmaceuticals Newsletter Nos. 7&8, July & August, and 9&10, September & October 1998]

Reference: FDA Talk Paper T98-80 dated 10 November 1998. [http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics]