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FDA cites tomatoes' cancer benefits

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Federal regulators cleared the way for food companies to cite certain cancer benefits by tomatoes in ads and on food labels.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light for qualified claims that tomatoes can reduce the risk of prostate, gastric, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. But it excluded tomato-based dietary supplements.

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The FDA said the health claims for fresh, dried or canned tomatoes must be qualified because they aren't completely proven, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The qualified claims center on the role of lycopene, the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red color.

The agency allowed the qualified claims for only four types of cancer and required food companies to spell out just how limited the scientific evidence is.

On prostate cancer, the FDA said, "Very limited and preliminary scientific research suggests that eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and/or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer."

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