U.S. FDA grants approval for the use of a Qualified Health Claim for raw, cooked, dried or canned tomatoes.
Heinz applauds FDA's approval, highlighting protective benefits on prostate cancer.
11/11/05 H.J. Heinz Company, the world's largest producer of processed tomato products, applauds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for granting approval for the use of a Qualified Health Claim for raw, cooked, dried or canned tomatoes.
The request for a Qualified Health Claim was submitted because of the growing body of scientific evidence that the consumption of tomato products may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths for adult males in the United States.
The petition was submitted by an H.J. Heinz Company-led consortium of the principal processed tomato organizations and a major health advocacy foundation.
Members of the consortium are:
-- H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, the world's largest producer of processed tomato products, including Classico(R) Pasta Sauce, Heinz(R) Ketchup and other tomato-based soups, juices and sauces;
-- Heinz Seed Company, Stockton, Calif., the world's largest producer of tomato seeds for the processing industry;
-- Lyco Red Natural Products Industries, Ltd., Beer Sheva, Israel, the leading research and development company marketing natural products based on the phytonutrients in tomatoes;
-- The Morning Star Company, Los Banos, Calif., the world's largest packer of bulk processed tomatoes; and
-- Prostate Cancer Foundation, Santa Monica, Calif., the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research.
The nearly 1,700-page proposal was developed in collaboration with the Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy (CFNAP) at University of Maryland - College Park (formerly known as the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Virginia Tech). CFNAP created an extensive, third-party review panel to evaluate the large volume of scientific literature, including more than 42 core studies. CFNAP evaluated the strength of numerous research findings related to the health benefits of tomato products.
Participating in the petition also provided a significant opportunity to further the Prostate Cancer Foundation's mission to promote research, better treatments and dietary approaches for preventing and treating prostate cancer.
H.J. Heinz Company, offering "Good Food, Every Day(TM)," is one of the world's leading marketers and producers of branded foods in ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, seafood, snacks, and infant foods. Heinz satisfies hungry consumers in every outlet, from supermarkets to restaurants to convenience stores and kiosks. Heinz is a global family of leading brands, including Heinz(R) Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing nearly one-third of total sales or close to $3 billion), HP(R) and Lea & Perrins(R), Ore-Ida(R) french fries and roasted potatoes, Boston Market(R) and Smart Ones(R) meals, and Plasmon(R) baby food. Heinz's 50 companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 countries, showcased by Heinz(R) Ketchup, The World's Favorite Ketchup(TM).
