Can eating a red fruit on a daily basis actually keep a physician away? Research shows that eating the wrong types of food can contribute to all kinds of terrible health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and obesity. So, why wouldn’t eating better food act as a kind of medicine in and of itself?

That’s the philosophy of some of the leading food manufacturers in America. Corporations like Nestle are looking for ways to market to people who want to blend health with medicine. To that end, Nestle has formed the Nestle Institute of Health Science and the Nestle Science S.A. The goal of these departments will be to focus on finding ways to treat various health issues.

It’s too early to tell what type of products Nestle will develop or what type of benefits, if any, the food might have. Some also wonder whether this move is worth the risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been working to investigate unsubstantiated claims from companies selling miracle foods.

Some companies are able to make bold health claims because their products fall under natural categories. Items such as vitamins and herbs can use labels touting health benefits, as long as they include a disclaimer that says the FDA has not approved of the claims. Depending on the exact situation, though, the FDA is able to sue manufacturers for false advertising.

As a case in point, the FDA recently brought a lawsuit against the couple who own and sell POM Wonderful. The pomegranate juice claims to help with a variety of conditions, including erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Other products to face lawsuits have claimed to treat Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions.

If Nestle wants to succeed as selling its food as medicine, it should prepare to go through the same steps as any other pharmaceutical company. Just because the packaging is fruit instead of a capsule doesn’t change the role of a medication.