The American Soybean Association (ASA) applauded initial approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a petition to allow health claim labels on products containing soybean protein. ASA President Mike Yost, a farmer from Murdock, Minnesota, stated that "approval by FDA of evidence that including soy protein in a healthy diet reduces serum cholesterol and may reduce the chance of heart disease will have consumers around the world seeking foods labeled to contain soy protein." Yost said that "allowing manufacturers to include this health claim on food product labels will open major market opportunities for U.S. soybean producers, enhancing demand and soybean prices. ASA is proud to have participated in the effort to obtain initial FDA approval, and will continue to work with all parties to achieve a positive final rule."

Yost’s remarks followed publication of a proposed rule in which FDA accepts the basic arguments contained in a petition filed earlier this year by Protein Technologies International, Inc. (PTI) and a follow-up petition filed by ASA in October. The PTI and ASA petitions presented data that links daily consumption of 25 grams of soy protein to reduction in serum cholesterol, a major cause of high blood pressure and heart disease. Products that contain at least six and one-quarter grams of soy protein per serving could make the claim based on four servings per day.

ASA and other interested parties have until January 25, 1999, to comment on the proposed rule, with a final rule expected by March of next year. ASA President Yost indicated that "ASA plans to ask FDA to allow manufacturers to use a simplified claim on product labels, rather than the lengthy language that would be authorized in the proposed rule. "With this one change," Yost added, "we couldn’t have asked for a more favorable decision by FDA, one that will benefit U.S. and world consumers as well as U.S. soybean producers."