Seems like the old FDA, which some critics claim had been acting like Rumpelstiltskin has finally woken up, smelled the coffee and some shoddy health claims too and decided that Elliot Ness is a far better role model than that sleepy guy.

Thanks to New Hope Media for the link to the FDA web page posting the warning letters sent to manufacturers. These letters are, according to New Hope, focused on unapproved health claims

In the letter to POM the FDA states that "Based on claims made in the labeling for this product on your website, we have determined that your POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice product is promoted for conditions that cause the product to be a drug under section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)(B)]. ." The letter continues that "The marketing of this product with these claims violates the Act."

As noted in Virgo Publishing's Natural Product Insider two portions of Pom's website were primarily at cause for the complaint.

The first offending claims are found in the Pom Wonderful website page that cites numerous scientific studies about the products benefits.

The other is from the portion of the site devoted to the "Pom Community" which includes a variety of personal testimonials were central to FDA's ruling.

Hain Celestial's Spectrum Organic Vegetable shortening was cited for failing to meet a variety of label claim including cholesterol free, having less saturated fat than butter, good source of monounsaturated fat and zero grams of trans fat.

Unlike the Pom citation which seem far more flagrant, the Spectrum product warning may be less in the claims themselves, than in missing label information to support them.

We're hopeful that these actions mean that the resurgence of Uncle Sam's BS detector will be good news for all of us but stay tuned. We've got a couple calls into our food scientist friends who can help clarify the impact of the new up and at em attitude at the FDA.