Positive iodine and iron children's claims enter EU law books

Positive European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims linking iodine, iron and children’s development have been adopted and written into the EU legislature.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 958/2010 of 22 October 2010 refusing to authorise a health claim made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and healthText with EEA relevance

The article 14 claims were submitted by the French-based Association de la Transformation Laitière Française and add to an article 14 protein claim that was adopted in 2009 that stated ‘Proteins of animal origin contribute to children’s bone growth’.

The new claims state:

  • Iodine contributes to the normal growth of children
  • Iron contributes to normal cognitive development of children

Recent publications of the Official Journal of the European Union, where authorised or rejected claims are published, also featured a number of rejected claims.

The Journal of October 22 featured three rejected article 14 claims.

Dutch company GP International Holding’s blood cholesterol reduction claim for its OPC (oligomeric procyanidins) grape seed extract was officially rejected.

A cranberry extract-based claim submitted by Czech firm Valosun was also rejected. It had proposed: “Cranberry extract and D-mannose, the main active ingredients of the food supplement Uroval, eliminate the adhesion of harmful bacteria to the bladder wall. The adhesion of harmful bacteria to the bladder wall is the main risk factor in the development of urinary tract infections.”

A third rejected claim came from German firm Töpfer GmbH,for a probiotic blend (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum).

The rejected claim stated: “Probiotic bifidobacteria lead to a healthy intestinal flora comparable to the composition of the intestinal flora of breast-fed infants’ intestine.”

An article 13.5 immunity claim rejection for Immune Balance drink from Rudolf Wild also entered the legislature. That rejected claim read: ‘The Immune Balance Drink activates body’s defence’

NutraIngredients health claims 2010

All things health claims will be discussed at the second NutraIngredients Health Claims 2010 conference to be held in Brussels on December 1. The conference will deconstruct the latest article 13.1 claim opinions, hear first-hand experience from players like Kellogg’s, outline regulation-coping marketing strategies, and feature comparison with the US claims system from leading industry figure, Dr Andrew Shao.

For more details click here.