Last week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its second batch of opinions on submitted health claims. The outcome is again disappointing for the food industry. In the first batch only one third of the claims was sufficiently substantiated, now this is even less: Only 9 of 416 claims are approved (such as 'Melatonine alleviates jetlag' and 'Potassium has a positive effect on blood pressure') .
169 claims concerning the effects of anti-oxidants are rejected, as well as the claims related to probiotica and the improvement of the intestinal microflora health. The opinion on several claims concerning muscle function and healthy blood sugar levels were unfavourable.
According to EFSA most of the claims are rejected due to the lack of information to identify the substance on which the claim is based or because of lack of evidence for the claimed effect. Besides there is often a deficiency of human studies with reliable measures of the claimed health benefit.
The NPN, the Dutch branche organisation, holds the opinion that - if the opinion of the EFSA is followed by the European Commission - hardly any claims for ingredients other than vitamins and minerals remain. “This was never the intention of the legislator and legislation when it was being prepared”, says the NPN. The NPN is now considering which steps have to be taken.
Kim Braber
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office Emerald House Jozef Israëlskade 48-G Amsterdam, the Netherlands t +31 (0)20 - 305 3066 www.hoogenhaak.nl |
post PO Box 76780 1070 KB Amsterdam e info@hoogenhaak.nl f +31 (0)20 - 305 3069 chamber of commerce 34314579 |
Last week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its second batch of opinions on submitted health claims. The outcome is again disappointing for the food industry. In the first batch only one third of the claims was sufficiently substantiated, now this is even less: Only 9 of 416 claims are approved (such as 'Melatonine alleviates jetlag' and 'Potassium has a positive effect on blood pressure') .
169 claims concerning the effects of anti-oxidants are rejected, as well as the claims related to probiotica and the improvement of the intestinal microflora health. The opinion on several claims concerning muscle function and healthy blood sugar levels were unfavourable.
According to EFSA most of the claims are rejected due to the lack of information to identify the substance on which the claim is based or because of lack of evidence for the claimed effect. Besides there is often a deficiency of human studies with reliable measures of the claimed health benefit.
The NPN, the Dutch branche organisation, holds the opinion that - if the opinion of the EFSA is followed by the European Commission - hardly any claims for ingredients other than vitamins and minerals remain. “This was never the intention of the legislator and legislation when it was being prepared”, says the NPN. The NPN is now considering which steps have to be taken.
Kim Braber