Nutrition and Health Claims
Under the European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, any manufacturer
wanting to make a statement about the positive effect a product can have on
health
–
or a 'health claim' – must ensure this claim is approved by the European Food
Safety Authority. If it is not, the company must apply for approval. The
Regulation
also
controls the claims companies can make about the nutritional
composition of
foods
–
known as 'nutrition claims'. These include statements such as
“low
in
fat” or
“high in fibre”. Food manufacturers will only be able to make
these
claims
if
strict requirements relating to the levels of such nutrients
in
products are
met.
In principle, FDF welcomes the new rules, because they will help protect
consumers from false or misleading claims. However, much uncertainty remains.
For
example, the European Commission is yet to publish a list of approved health
claims.
This is not due to happen until January 2010. It is also still to be
decided
how
the European Commission will use 'nutrient profiles' to establish
whether
or
not
food and drink products should be allowed to carry health and
nutrition
claims
under the regulation, which covers food, drink and food
supplements.
These
profiles
will include whether products are disqualified
from
carrying
claims
through
being
high in one or more of such
nutrients
as
fat,
saturated
fat,
sugar or
salt.
FDF hopes that the approach taken to nutrient profiling will reflect the
importance of a balanced diet and will not demonise individual foods which play
an
important role in the diet. We hope the Commission will take account of the
positive
nutrients contained in some foods high in salt, fat and sugar and allow
manufacturers to make positive health and nutrition claims for these products
where
those
claims have been approved.
More Information