Complementary Nutrition: Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements BIOL 103, Chapter 3 (Part 1)

Today’s Topics Functional Foods – Phytochemicals Food Additives – Types & Regulations

Functional Foods What is it? – Functional foods: Foods can be classified as functional foods if they contain:

Phytochemicals Phytochemicals: – ______________________________________ – act as _________________________________ Neutralize free radicals Reduce heart disease and cancer risk – Found naturally in _______________________ ________________________________________

Examples and Benefits of Phytochemicals Table 3.1: Examples of Functional Components Examples:

How do phytochemicals work to prevent chronic disease? 1._______________________________________ _______________________________________ – Estrogen and other hormones are linked with development of breast, ovarian, prostate tumors (which can develop from too much soy consumption) 1.Phytochemicals can neutralize _____________ ______________________________________ – Normally, free radicals oxidize/damage: ___________________________________

Adding Phytochemicals to Your Diet We do not yet know enough about phytochemicals to make them into dietary supplements. – Many phytochemicals work in synergy (together) Add phytochemicals to your diet: – Include more functional foods and fewer empty calories More fruits More vegetables Make half of your grains whole

Foods Enhanced with Functional Ingredients Foods can be enhanced with functional ingredients during ___________________. – Examples:

Regulatory Issues for Functional Foods Food labeling: – Required for ______________________________ Examples: canned and frozen foods, drinks, snacks – Not required for ___________________________ Examples: fruits, vegetables, and fish

Regulatory Issues for Functional Foods FDA regulates food, drug, and dietary supplements – [Conventional] Food include: ______________________________________________________ – Drug: ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________ – Dietary Supplements: _____________________________ ________________________________________________ By law, (DSHEA, 1994) a firm does not have to provide the FDA with the adequate evidence that the supplements are safe or effective before/after marketing its products. FDA needs to only approve if it’s a new dietary ingredient

Food Additives Additives: _______________________________ ________________________________________ – Examples of food additives functions: 2 types of additives – Direct: ______________________________________ Most additives must be listed in the ingredient’s list. – Indirect: _____________________________________ ____________________________________________ Food manufacturers must prove to FDA that all materials coming in contact with food are safe

5 Purposes of Direct Additives

Vitamins as Food Additives in Alcohol? Alcohol Metabolism US/Euro companies enhanced alcoholic beverages with vitamins – Process: Con:

Regulation of Food Additives by the FDA Additives fall into 4 Regulatory Categories: 1.Food Additives 2.Color Additives 3.Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances 4.Prior-sanctioned substances

Regulation of Food Additives by the FDA 1.Food Additives Must have ________ approval ___________________________ must prove safety 2.Color Additives: _________________________ _______________________________________ Certified color additives used in foods are man-made. – Must have _______________________ approval – ________________________________test batches for purity – Listed ingredient list by common name

Who loves Orange Juice? Processed orange juice is generally flavorless because oxygen is removed from them (prevents spoiling) So, juice companies hire flavor and fragrance companies to make flavor packs to make the juice taste fresh. – Flavor packs are not listed in ingredient labels b/c they are technically derived from orange essence and oil. – Different fragrance chemicals are used in different countries

Regulation of Food Additives by the FDA 3. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS): substances that can be added to foods by manufacturers without establishing rigorous scientific tests. “____________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ” Examples: ____________________________________ – Congress made a GRAS list (1958) Food additive is added to the GRAS list if: – ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

MSG MSG: monosodium glutamate What is it? – Flavor enhancer found in many Asian cuisine, canned vegetables, processed meat. Is it really harmful? – People report short-term side effects such as headache, flushing, sweating, nausea, chest pain… What does the research say? – Researchers have yet to find a solid evidence that link these symptoms with MSG. However, because MSG topic is still controversial, the FDA requires that MSG is listed in the labels.

Regulation of Food Additives by the FDA 4. Prior-sanctioned Substances: These items are exempt from the food additive regulation process. Examples:

Delaney Clause Delaney Clause: Controversy associated with

Additives in Functional Foods How much additives should be used? How much additives is safe? What about herbs and other botanical extracts (ginseng, EGCG in green tea)? – If not in GRAS,…

Claims for Functional Foods Structure/function claims for functional foods – Based on ____________ _____________________ – Not as strictly regulated as ______________________ Now: many food manufacturers make exaggerating claims about non-nutrients in foods and their effects on body structure or function

Strategies for Functional Food Use Stick with science – Eat fruit and vegetables – Eat nutrition-fortified products as needed – Read, read, read (scientific articles) – Be critical of advertising and hype “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”