"High in antioxidants" is a nutrient claim, and FDA allows it only for nutrients that have a Daily Value and recognized antioxidant activity, like vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A from beta-carotene, at a level that qualifies for a good source (10%) or high (20%) claim. The nutrients have to be named, "high in antioxidant vitamin C", or listed next to an asterisk on the same panel. Polyphenols, anthocyanins and the other compounds that make cherries and chocolate famous have no Daily Value, so they can't carry an antioxidant claim at all. In the example below, a Fresno dried fruit maker checks four products.
The short version
- Only nutrients with a Daily Value and antioxidant activity count: vitamins C and E, beta-carotene.
- The nutrient has to reach good source, 10%, or high, 20%, per reference amount.
- Name the nutrient in the claim, or list it next to an asterisk on the same panel.
- Polyphenols and anthocyanins have no Daily Value: no antioxidant claim.
- Any claim brings a Nutrition Facts panel.
- Measure per reference amount: 40 g for dried fruit, 30 g for fruit chips.
- TaroStack keeps each recipe by weight and each batch by lot. More below.
The tests
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| A Daily Value | Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A as beta-carotene; not polyphenols or anthocyanins |
| Antioxidant activity | Recognized activity against free radicals in the body |
| The level | Good source, 10% or more, or high, 20% or more, per reference amount |
| Named | "High in antioxidant vitamin C", or an asterisk to a list on the same panel |
The good source and high levels for any nutrient are worked through in good source of iron, and a Nutrition Facts panel in how to make a nutrition label.
The rules
| Rule | Where |
|---|---|
| Antioxidant claims | Nutrients with an RDI and recognized antioxidant activity, at a good source, high or more level, named or linked by a symbol (21 CFR 101.54(g)) |
| The levels | High: 20% or more of the RDI per reference amount; good source: 10 to 19% (21 CFR 101.54(b), (c)) |
| Daily Values | Vitamin C 90 mg, vitamin E 15 mg (21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv)) |
| Reference amounts | Dried fruit 40 g; fruit chips, a snack, 30 g (21 CFR 101.12(b)) |
This is general information, not legal advice.
An example: four dried fruits
Central Valley Dried Fruit Co., the made-up dried fruit maker in Fresno, California, I use in these examples, had a buyer ask for "rich in antioxidants" on its bags, and had its fruit analyzed:
| Product | Reference amount | Nutrient | % Daily Value | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dried mango | 40 g | Vitamin C, 17 mg | 18.9% | Good source of antioxidant vitamin C |
| Apple chips | 30 g | Vitamin C, 1 mg | 1.1% | None |
| Dried apricots | 40 g | Vitamin A as beta-carotene, 72 mcg | 8.0% | None |
| Dried tart cherries | 40 g | Anthocyanins; no Daily Value | None |
Only the mango qualifies, and only as a good source, so its bag says "good source of antioxidant vitamin C", not "rich in antioxidants". The tart cherries, the fruit the buyer had in mind, can't carry an antioxidant claim, because anthocyanins have no Daily Value; the bag can describe the fruit, not the antioxidants. The mango's claim brings a Nutrition Facts panel. Margins on the same bags are in is selling dried fruit profitable.
Get the checker
Download the antioxidant claim checker. One sheet: each product, the nutrient, its Daily Value and its amount per reference amount; the % Daily Value and the antioxidant claim it can carry fill in, with no claim where there's no Daily Value. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
The analysis is right for the fruit it tested. Vitamin C drops with heat and time, so a darker batch or an older bag can fall under 10% while the bag still says good source.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack keeps each recipe by weight, so the mango in a batch is the recipe's mango.
Recipes by weight. Each dried fruit is its own recipe, with its ingredients by weight.
Batches by lot. Each batch records which ingredient lots it used and how many bags it filled.
Recalls. If a batch was made from the wrong recipe, one report shows every customer who got it.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| Which recipe a batch followed | Remembered | Each batch from its recipe |
| Mango used in a batch | Not recorded | From the recipe and batch |
| Who got a wrong batch | Invoices | One recall report |
Recipes, batches and recalls are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.