Indeed, the nutrient that launched diet and weight control products in the early 1980s is back in vogue. While consumers should not forget about fat and other nutrients, recent FDA recommendations on combating obesity suggest it's all about calories. At the same time, new rules authorizing carb claims are on the horizon, as FDA faces the challenge of keeping pace with a dynamic marketplace.
The report, “Calories Count: Report of the Working Group on Obesity,” was issued a few months ago by the Obesity Working Group (OWG), appointed from within the FDA by then-commissioner of food and drugs, Mark McClellan. It offers important insights into federal regulatory policy, and foreshadows changes that may be on the horizon.