EFSA spokesperson Lucia DeLuca told us that most of the opinions were for probiotic strains, most of which were rejected before even having their scientific data assessed first time around as they were deemed to not have been sufficiently characterised. "There are about 50+ opinions to be processed and adopted," she said.
An isoflavone opinion would also be issued, she said, among others.
These opinions go with an earlier batch of reconsidered submissions that affirmed a 100% probiotic rejection rate, along with lutein and vitamin K2, while prunes won a reprieve.
New blood
The session will be the last for the current 20-stong Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), before nine new members join the for three-year stints.
Current NDA chair Professor Albert Flynn will finish his tenure with the Parma-based agency after many years, while NDA unit head, Dr Juliane Kleiner, will remain in her unelected role as a fully paid EFSA staff member.
Aside from other roles on EFSA scientific committees, Professor Flynn has overseen an NDA Panel that has processed almost 3000 health claim applications to date. When the new Panel meets for its first plenary in July it will elect a new chair from among itself.
One of its biggest tasks will be to process about 1500 botanical extract submissions that were put on hold by the European Commission over concerns about whether the prevailing scientific assessment methodologies are appropriate for such substances.
The 20 panelists are:
