How Much Haute Oat?

Regarding the May 15 story, “The Haute Oat”:

Perhaps in addition to issuing “final regulations this summer that will set tests for food advertising claims,” the Food and Drug Administration should also set minimal standards concerning what percentage of a food product needs to be oat bran before it can be so called and capitalized on.

Oats and oat bran are much more helpful in reducing cholesterol than wheat or wheat bran, according to current data.

Consumers should be aware that before buying a product with the words “oat bran” in its name, the list of ingredients should be read to determine if that is the only grain in the product or not. Some so-called oat bran products have other grains as well.

At a minimum, the Food and Drug Administration should insist that manufacturers producing products with more than one grain specify the percentages of each grain in the product.

SYLVAIN FRIBOURG, M.D.

Panorama City