Rebecca Wright11.09.05
In a decision Tuesday, November 10th, the FDA authorized limited, qualified health claims for tomatoes and/or tomato sauce and reduction in the risk of prostate, gastric, ovarian and pancreatic cancers based on their lycopene content but denied comparable claims for tomatoes, tomato-based foods (other than tomato sauce) and dietary supplements containing lycopenes.
American Longevity, the petitioner in the case, has been waiting for the decision for almost two years. According to the company, FDA granted itself six extensions of time to evaluate the evidence. The scientific evidence American Longevity presented in support of the claims depends upon studies of the effectiveness of lycopenes derived from tomatoes in reducing cancer risk. The expert opinions supplied by American Longevity in support of the claims revealed the lycopenes and not tomatoes per se as the source of the cancer risk reducing effect. The FDA decision fails to credit lycopenes as anti-cancer agents except in the context of tomato sauce and tomatoes themselves.
“The FDA decision greatly misleads the American consumer,” said Steve Wallach, General Manager of American Longevity. “The American public is entitled to the whole truth and we will do all we can to prevent FDA from keeping this scientific information from the American people.”
American Longevity will file suit against the Food and Drug Administration seeking declaratory and injunctive relief for violation of its First Amendment rights within the next thirty days.
American Longevity, the petitioner in the case, has been waiting for the decision for almost two years. According to the company, FDA granted itself six extensions of time to evaluate the evidence. The scientific evidence American Longevity presented in support of the claims depends upon studies of the effectiveness of lycopenes derived from tomatoes in reducing cancer risk. The expert opinions supplied by American Longevity in support of the claims revealed the lycopenes and not tomatoes per se as the source of the cancer risk reducing effect. The FDA decision fails to credit lycopenes as anti-cancer agents except in the context of tomato sauce and tomatoes themselves.
“The FDA decision greatly misleads the American consumer,” said Steve Wallach, General Manager of American Longevity. “The American public is entitled to the whole truth and we will do all we can to prevent FDA from keeping this scientific information from the American people.”
American Longevity will file suit against the Food and Drug Administration seeking declaratory and injunctive relief for violation of its First Amendment rights within the next thirty days.
