The agency has procduced a Preliminary Final Assesment Report which is now open to an additional round of consultation.
Conceptual framework
According to the Report, claims will be classified as nutrition content claims, general level health claims, and high level health claims. Nutrition content claims are statements which include information about the amount of nutrient energy or the amount of biologically active substances in foods; general level health claims describe a relationship between the consumption of a food or constituent and particular benefits of the food in relation to health; high level health claims also describe a relationship between the consumption of a food or constituent and particular benefits of the food in relation to health, but these claims reference to a serious disease or condition, or a biomarker of a serious disease or condition.
The proposed standard will also include:
A requirement that all claims must be substantiated.
Specific qualifying criteria for nutrition content claims (e.g. food described as ‘low salt’ must contain no more than 120mg sodium per 100g for solid food)
Additional labelling for some nutrition content claims (e.g. the level of potassium in the food must be declared if a claim about salt is made)
Specific conditions for some claims (e.g. a weight loss or weight maintenance claim must be made in the context of the importance of regular exercise)
Nutrition profiling system
Food standards Australia has also developed a nutrition profiling system - a set of elegibility rules for foods that may carry health claims. This model takes account of the level of sugar, salt, saturated fat and total energy within a food, but also takes account of levels of beneficial nutrients (fibre or fruit and vegetable contents). This system replaces the previously proposed model which was based on a very simple scheme: if the food did not exceed defined levels of total sugar, salt and saturated fat per serving, it could carry a health claim. However this system was proved to cause many anomalies. For example, some foods that are intrinsically high in sugars, such as some fruits and dairy products, were prohibited from carrying health claims. Alcohol and infant formula will not be eligible to carry health claims.
A Health Claims ‘Watchdog’ will monitor and record complaints received about food-related nutrition content and health claims.
Health and Nutrition Claims in Europe
In December 2006, a Regulation on the use of nutrition and health claims for foods was adopted by the Council and Parliament. This Regulation layed down harmonised rules for the use of health or nutritional claims (such as “low fat”, “high fibre” and “helps lower cholesterol”) on foodstuffs based on nutrient profiles. After the approval of the legislation the Commission gave a moratorium of two years for food companies to bring their claims on foodstuffs aimed at children into line with the new rules. This decision has prompted complaints among MEP’s and member states’ representatives who strongly reject this concession given to industry.
EPHA related articles:
EPHA Response to EC’s Proposal on ’Nutrition & Health Claims Made on Foods’
Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods
European Commission consultation on labelling
Food labelling in the EU: purposes, principles and challenges
New amendment on food labelling Directive improves consumer information
Official documents:
REGULATION (EC) No 1924/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL.
