"I want to see the agency take steps into adjudicating some of these important claims," Gottlieb said last week at the WSJ Global Food Forum.
The Trump administration appointee has postponed Obama-era food-labeling rules, pleasing many food manufacturers but angering consumer groups. Gottlieb said he remains committed to making food packaging more informative, but wants to give manufacturers more time to comply.
The physician also said he is concerned that some food companies make claims on their packaging that are motivated more by marketing than consumer health.
“I’d like to see manufacturers innovate in areas that deliver more health to people,” he said.
Gottlieb’s prominence in the Trump administration has risen lately, stoking speculation that the president might pick him to succeed Tom Price as Health and Human Services Secretary. Price resigned last month over extensive use of private jets and military flights.
