06.02.14
In order to identify best practices and assist consumer understanding of protein content, the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has developed recommended guidelines for the calculation and labeling of protein content in supplements and functional foods.
The newly adopted recommendations provide manufacturers and marketers with a method to calculate the amount of protein to be declared in nutrition labeling. In addition, the guidelines suggest that these calculations should only include proteins that, by definition, consist of a chain of amino acids connected by peptide bonds. Although FDA’s labeling regulations do not expressly prohibit the inclusion of non-protein nitrogen-containing substances in the calculations, CRN’s recommended guidelines advise that these substances not be counted toward total protein content on product labels.
Steve Mister, CRN’s president and CEO, explained, “Health-conscious consumers are becoming more aware about adding protein to their diets, and CRN’s members want to be sure their customers have accurate information about actual protein content so they can make smarter decisions and compare products. These new guidelines assure that other nitrogen-containing ingredients don’t get included in the protein count.”
The guidelines are consistent with those issued recently by the American Herbal Products Association. The two trade associations worked cooperatively in developing their respective programs to provide consistency between the guidelines, making it easier for more companies in the industry to adhere to the recommendations voluntarily.
The newly adopted recommendations provide manufacturers and marketers with a method to calculate the amount of protein to be declared in nutrition labeling. In addition, the guidelines suggest that these calculations should only include proteins that, by definition, consist of a chain of amino acids connected by peptide bonds. Although FDA’s labeling regulations do not expressly prohibit the inclusion of non-protein nitrogen-containing substances in the calculations, CRN’s recommended guidelines advise that these substances not be counted toward total protein content on product labels.
Steve Mister, CRN’s president and CEO, explained, “Health-conscious consumers are becoming more aware about adding protein to their diets, and CRN’s members want to be sure their customers have accurate information about actual protein content so they can make smarter decisions and compare products. These new guidelines assure that other nitrogen-containing ingredients don’t get included in the protein count.”
The guidelines are consistent with those issued recently by the American Herbal Products Association. The two trade associations worked cooperatively in developing their respective programs to provide consistency between the guidelines, making it easier for more companies in the industry to adhere to the recommendations voluntarily.
