FDA faces legal challenge from Alliance for Natural Health over blocked nutrient health claims

Published: 12-Jan-2026
Regulatory Dietary supplements

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH-USA) is set to sue the US FDA after the agency rejected a petition seeking approval for 118 nutrient-disease claims, citing violations of the First Amendment and federal law

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH-USA) has announced plans to take legal action against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the agency’s rejection of a petition to allow the marketing of 118 nutrient-disease claims.

The petition, compiled during several years, cites research and public-facing guidance from federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ANH-USA argues that the FDA’s refusal violates the First Amendment and the FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA), which allows nutrient claims based on "authoritative statements" from government scientists.

The organisation contends that the FDA’s stance keeps scientifically backed nutrition information out of the hands of consumers, favouring a drug-centric healthcare system rather than affordable, preventive approaches.

Jonathan Emord, ANH-USA’s general counsel, has highlighted that many of the disputed claims are already acknowledged in federal publications.

Examples include nutrients such as riboflavin, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and folate, which have been linked to reduced risk of conditions ranging from anaemia and heart disease to inflammation and certain cancers.

"FDA’s censorship of science-backed claims from its own agencies represents a clear infringement on public rights to factual health information," Emord said.

The petition also underscores the broader public health context, noting rising chronic disease rates and the potential for nutrient interventions to support prevention.

ANH-USA’s legal challenge seeks to restore the ability of manufacturers to communicate these claims at the point of sale, ensuring that Americans have access to verified nutrition science.

FDA’s rejection of the petition marks nearly three decades in which Americans have been denied access to nutrient–disease information that is publicly available elsewhere in government literature.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for supplement marketing, consumer rights and federal regulation of nutrition claims.

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