OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Final rule. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing its decision not to authorize the use on the label or labeling of foods of health claims relating to an association between dietary fiber and cancer. However, FDA is authorizing a health claim relating diets low in fat and high in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables to a reduced risk of cancer. This action is in response to provisions of the Nutrition labeling and Education Act of 1990 (the 1990 amendments) that bear on health claims, and was developed in accordance with the final rule on general requirements for health claims, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. Based on the totality of the publicly available scientific evidence, including recently available evidence, the agency has concluded that there is not significant scientific agreement among qualified experts that a claim relating dietary fiber to reduced risk of cancer is supported. The publicly available evidence does indicate, however, that diets low in fat and rich in fibercontaining grain products, fruits, and vegetables are associated with a decreased risk of several types of cancer, and there is significant scientific agreement that the evidence supports this association. The evidence is not sufficient to fully explain the role of total dietary fiber, fiber components, and the multiple nutrients and other substances contained in these foods in reducing cancer risk. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 8, 1993. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce J. Saltsman, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-165), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-5916. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: