Can I make health claims about my dried teas?

Tea has a rich history, dating back thousands of years. While tea is often enjoyed as a social beverage, others use it for medicinal purposes or as a dietary supplement. In general, a dietary supplement is something intended to add to or improve the quality of a diet.

In contrast, conventional foods, such as bread, milk and eggs, are not intended to supplement your diet but provide general nutrition.

Cottage food producers can dehydrate herbs, plants and other produce to use as ingredients in dried tea mixes. When packaging and labeling your dried tea mixes, be careful when making any claims about the benefits of your product.

Food or supplement?

Before using health claims to market dried teas, know what claims you can and cannot make.

Nutrient specific claims

A nutrient-specific food claim describes a specific nutrient’s intended role or function in the human body. For example, “calcium supports strong bones.” These health claims can be made for conventional food and dietary supplements.

Health claims

Health claims or symptom-specific health claims describe a food's nutrient or non-nutrient effect on the human body. For example, “supports a good night's sleep.” These claims can only be made for dietary supplements.

How does this apply to dried tea sold as cottage food products?

To make nutrient-specific health claims, the product must have a full nutrition panel. Nutrition panels are not required for cottage food products but would be necessary if you plan to make a nutrient-specific claim.

General health or symptom-specific health claims are only allowed for dietary supplements and can not be made for cottage food products. Dietary supplements are not allowable food under the Minnesota Cottage Foods Exemption law.

Alternative options for cottage food products include using clever names. For example, naming chamomile tea as “Sleepy Tea” or ginger tea as “Soothing Tea.” Another approach would be to include a slogan; for example, “enjoy a cup before bedtime” or “sip after dinner.”

These rules apply to all cottage foods and are not specific to dried teas. Be sure to follow all additional labeling requirements under the Minnesota Cottage Food Exemption law.

If you want to sell your dried tea as a dietary supplement you must adhere to regulations (Dietary Supplement CGMPs in 21 CFR part 111). You also need a food license.

Have a question you want answered?

Email your questions to the food safety team at [email protected]. It may be featured in this newsletter to benefit all Minnesota cottage foods producers.