The recent Probiota event in Berlin brought together leading experts in research and business to discuss the state of play in probiotics, prebiotics and microbiome modification.
NutraIngredients asked for expert insights on a range of topics. Here we questioned whether an EFSA approved health claim is achievable for probiotics.
Nina Vinot, area sales manager at Probiotical, said that the recent narrowing of EFSA guidelines has helped industry to know 'what to do' - but said the recent rejection of Probi's iron claim has made the industry question how much more it might need to invest.
However, Peter Nählstedt, CEO of Probi is an optimist about EU claims.
"I think the different industry players need to keep submitting health claim applications. We need to look at more generic health claim applications, but we also need to keep looking for a way to engage the authorities in the EU," said Nählstedt who is also chairman of European arm of the International Probiotics Association (IPA Europe).
Meanwhile, Amy Smith, senior manager of regulatory and scientific affairs at DuPont Nutrition and Health said getting the number of studies that EFSA feels is required for proof "has become more achievable than it was before."
"We feel within the next year or so that we will have success in submitting a health claim submission to EFSA, and having them recognise the true benefit of probiotic strains," she said.
Smith added that DuPont 'probably will' submit a new EFSA dossier within the next year.
"We hope that we will have success," she said.