October 26, 2004 – Due to overwhelming case loads and manpower shortage at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fleminger, Inc., has been requested to allow a three-month extension for the review of its petition for a qualified health claim (QHC) entitled "Green Tea and Reduced Risk of Cancer". 

While the delay is not related to any scientific objection raised by the FDA to the contents of the submission or to the health claims proposed, this extension will postpone the decision originally due on October 29, 2004, until January 28, 2005.  At the FDA's request, Fleminger, Inc., has agreed to allow this extension.

Filed as docket number 2004Q-0083 on March 18, 2004, and subsequently modified with supplement SUP 2, this petition is part of Fleminger's educational program to inform the public of the benefits of drinking green high-antioxidant tea.

The proposed claim would read:

“Daily consumption of 40 ounces of typical green tea containing 710 μg/ml natural (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. There is scientific evidence supporting this health claim although the evidence is not conclusive.”