Health claims are statements that suggest a relationship between a food, food component, or dietary supplement and health benefits. These claims can indicate that a product may reduce the risk of a disease or promote health in some way. For example, a label might state that a product is beneficial for heart health or helps maintain strong bones.
There are different types of health claims, including nutrient content claims, which describe the level of a nutrient in a product, and structure/function claims, which describe how a nutrient affects the body. Regulatory agencies, like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), oversee these claims to ensure they are truthful and not misleading.