Status of nutrition and health claims in Europe by mid 2015
Abstract
Functional foods are closely associated with claims on foods. There are two categories of claims on foods: nutrition claims and health claims. Nutrition claims refer to what a food contains and comprise content claims and comparative claims. Health claims refer to what a food does and refer to general function claims, claims related to a reduction of risk of disease and claims related to the growth and development of children.Health claims on (functional) foods must be scientifically substantiated. In December 2006, the European Union published Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides the scientific advice to the European Commission for health claims submitted under Regulation 1924/2006. By 2015, EFSA has evaluated around 3000 health claims.The outcome of the scientific evaluation process was that ca 250 health claims have been evaluated with a positive outcome, a few with insufficient evidence, whereas the large majority of health claims proposals were evaluated with the conclusion that the claim was not supported by scientific evidence. In addition to hundreds of opinions on health claims, EFSA has published various guidelines related to the scientific substantiation of health claims on foods and guidance documents for health claims related to diverse health endpoints. Upon scientific evaluation by EFSA, it is up to the European Commission and the member States to decide on authorisation. EU Regula…
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Scientific opinion was provided for 2,758 general function health claims, with about 20% being approved.
“Scientific opinion was provided for 2,758 general function health claims, with about 20% being approved (Pravst, 2012;Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016;Verhagen, Vos, Francl, Heinonen, & van Loveren, 2010).”
From Comparison of requirements for using health claims on foods in the European Union, the USA, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand (2021) · cites this paper as Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016
The NHCR requires authorization of all health claims by the European Commission through the Comitology procedure, following scientific assessment and verification by EFSA.
“The NHCR requires the authorization of all health claims by the European Commission (EC) through the Comitology procedure, following the scientific assessment and verification of a claim by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (Pravst, 2010;Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016).”
From Comparison of requirements for using health claims on foods in the European Union, the USA, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand (2021) · cites this paper as Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016
Many health claims applications were declined in practice due to a lack of scientific evidence.
“In fact, many health claims applications were declined in practice due to a lack of scientific evidence (Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016).”
From Comparison of requirements for using health claims on foods in the European Union, the USA, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand (2021) · cites this paper as Verhagen & van Loveren, 2016
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- Authors
- Verhagen, H., & van Loveren, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Ulster (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Verhagen, Hans
- ORCID
- Verhagen, Hans
- Venue
- Trends in Food Science & Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-10
- Volume
- 56
- Pages
- 39-45
- ISSN
- 0924-2244 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2465895564
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 5.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Food Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion)
- Rivm Repository (Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Agricultural safety and regulations
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food and Agricultural Sciences
- Keywords
- nutrition claims, health claims, functional foods, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants
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