QHC study

FDA plans to conduct a study to "further explore" the use of report card grading schemes in qualified health claims (QHCs), according to a notice published in the Federal Register May 22. The study builds off previous research that found report card schemes were effective in conveying the "intended ordering of scientific certainty," but led consumers to be more certain of "B" and "C" claims than claims of higher scientific certainty, which did not receive a grade (1"The Tan Sheet" Oct. 10, 2005, p. 7). The proposed study will attempt to correct for "misperceptions" observed in the previous study and will position unqualified claims as "A" grade claims. Additionally, the study will use actual health claims and variants of these claims rather than hypothetical claims. Green tea and cancer, coronary heart disease and consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil as well as omega-3 fatty acids and CHD claims will be used. An earlier version of the study was proposed in March 2005 (2"The Tan Sheet" April 4, 2005, In Brief)...