FDA warns food companies about herbal additives

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Food and Drug Administration has warned companies putting herbal additives in their food that their products could be illegal. At issue are "novel ingredients" that have not been approved for use in food.

The FDA sent letters to three companies about the use of the herbs echinacea, ginkgo biloba and Siberian ginseng in conventional food products, saying the ingredients might not be "generally recognized as safe," an FDA requirement for food additives.

If product makers can't scientifically prove their ingredients are safe, those products could eventually be pulled from stores' shelves.

The three companies targeted in what the FDA said is the first round of such letters are Hansen Beverage Co., U.S. Mills, and Fresh Samantha. The products in question are Fresh Samantha's Super Juice with Echinacea; U.S. Mills' New Morning Organic Ginseng Crunch and Organic GinkgOs cereals, which the FDA says are falsely labeled as dietary supplements; and Hansen's Healthy Start Immune Juice with added echinacea.

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To be generally recognized as safe an added ingredient must be commonly used in food, like salt or sugar, or have been scientifically tested.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America, an industry group representing more than 140 of the world's top food brands, says herbs fall into both categories.

"These ingredients have been used for decades in different foods, beverages and even dietary supplements with no complaints for consumers or public health effects," said Lisa Katic of the GMA.

The market for foods with herbal additives, which the industry calls nutraceuticals, is booming.

Annual sales skyrocketed to $700 million last year. Convenience store shelves brimming with herb-laden beverages are bolstering the market.

In January, the FDA sent an industry letter warning companies to make sure they were complying with the rules for additives. The agency said that was basically the warning shot. Now it is sending letters to specific companies about specific products.

The FDA said additional letters will be sent out soon.

Food manufacturers who receive the warning letters have 15 working days to correct the violation.