Psyllium Heart Claim OK'd

Breakfast cereal manufacturers now can claim that products containing soluble fiber from psyllium seed husk may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says.

The agency's regulatory ruling came in response to a petition from Kellogg Co. The soluble fiber of psyllium comes from the dried husk of the psyllium seed and is used in Kellogg's Bran Buds and in a variety of dietary supplement products promoted for increased fiber intake and as aids for weight loss.

But the FDA says that because some foods containing PSH can be difficult to swallow, foods carrying the health claim must also have a label statement advising of the need to consume the food with adequate amounts of liquid. The label should also note to avoid eating the food if one has difficulty swallowing. But certain foods not posing such risks are exempt.

The rule amends to a 1997 ruling allowing manufacturers of products containing soluble fiber from whole oats, including Quaker Oats, to issue similar claims. The FDA ruling says foods carrying the health claim must provide at least 1.7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium.