USA: FDA launches national survey on food and dietary supplements

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched the start of a national ‘Information Collection Request’ entitled “Health and Diet Survey” and is seeking public comments before 31 December. The body is hoping that the survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults selected from the 48 States and the District of Columbia, will provide information about US consumers' knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices in relation to dietary supplements and food.

December 4, 2001

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched the start of a national ‘Information Collection Request’ entitled “Health and Diet Survey” and is seeking public comments before 31 December.

The body is hoping that the survey, involving a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults selected from the 48 States and the District of Columbia, will provide information about US consumers’ knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices in relation to dietary supplements and food.

The FDA has said that the survey will quiz participants on their experience and knowledge of the uses, benefits and risks of dietary supplements for themselves and younger members of society; their knowledge on the sources of dietary supplement information; their perceptions of labels on dietary supplements and general food products; their understanding of the replacement and combination use of supplements and drugs and the relationship between diet and health, and their use of dietary management practices.