Yogurt Gets Nod from FDA: Limited Evidence Suggests Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes Risk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized yogurt sold in the United States to carry labels suggesting a potential reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes. The FDA announced that this decision, albeit based on limited evidence, permits yogurt products to convey this health benefit.

Acknowledging the presence of some evidence, although lacking significant scientific consensus, the FDA on Friday stated that consuming at least 2 cups of yogurt per week may potentially lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a disease impacting roughly 36 million Americans, per AP News.

The FDA has authorized additional qualified health claims, beyond yogurt, such as that some chocolate may reduce heart disease and that cranberry juice may reduce the incidence of recurring urinary tract infections in women.

Danone North America, the US affiliate of the French multinational behind Dannon, Activia, and Horizon Organics yogurts, began yogurt qualifying in 2018. The proposal contained longitudinal research linking yogurt eating to lower diabetes indicators.

While the FDA recognized "some credible evidence" supporting yogurt's benefits as a whole food, it clarified that this wasn't attributed to any specific nutrient within yogurt.

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images) Yogurt is offered for sale at a grocery store on October 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

Critics Raise Concerns

Critics argue that this label change lacks the robust support of gold-standard randomized controlled trials necessary to definitively prove yogurt's efficacy in reducing diabetes risk. The Center for Science in the Public Interest emphasized that no single food can singularly reduce disease risk tied to overall dietary patterns. Additionally, they raised concerns that the label change might inadvertently elevate diabetes risk by encouraging the consumption of yogurt varieties with added sugars and mix-ins like cookies and pretzels.

Food policy expert Marion Nestle criticized qualified health claims based on limited evidence as "ridiculous on their face," suggesting individuals who believe in such claims should do so with the understanding that they lack robust evidentiary support.

In a separate announcement, the FDA cautioned against the use of smartwatches or smart rings claiming to measure blood sugar without skin piercing.

Highlighting the absence of FDA-approved devices, the agency underscored the risks for diabetes management due to potential inaccurate readings. Such inaccuracies could lead to medication dosage errors and severe health risks, including dangerously low blood glucose levels, potentially resulting in coma or death, as previously reported by TechTimes.

The FDA emphasized the importance of relying on FDA-authorized blood glucose measuring devices requiring skin penetration, distinguishing them from unauthorized wearable devices.

World Governments Urged to Take Action Against Obesity

Meanwhile, new research reveals a global obesity crisis affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. Analyzing body mass index (BMI) changes from 1990 to 2022 across 190 countries, researchers found alarming increases in childhood and adult obesity rates.

The study reveals that children and adult obesity rates have risen dramatically. Global obesity rates for girls climbed from 1.7% to 6.9% and boys from 2.1% to 9.3%. In 2022, 880 million adults and 159 million children were obese, with Tonga, American Samoa, and Nauru having 60% obesity rates.

The World Health Organization and health experts made urgent calls for affordable, accessible, and healthy meals as experts address the pressing malnutrition issue, emphasizing collaborative efforts between governments and communities to achieve global obesity goals.