2015.11.10
Refusal of health claims referring to children's development and health
Health claims | EU | Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 | EFSAOn November 10, 2015, Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1886 enters into force. The Regulation refuses to authorise three health claims made on foods and referring to children's development and health.
Refused claims
The following nutrients/substances/foods and claims are affected:
- Non-digestible oligo- and polysaccharides including galacto-oligosaccharides, oligofructose, polyfructose and inulin | With non-digestible oligo- and/or polysaccharides to stimulate calcium absorption
- Beta-galactosidase from Streptococcus thermophiles | Lactase for comfortable digestion
- Prunes | Dried plums/prunes can contribute to normal bowel function
Transition period
The health claims in question – used prior to the entry into force of the Regulation – may continue to be used for a maximum period of 6 months after the entry into force of the Regulation (Art 1 (2) of the Regulation).
Reasoning
Regarding claims relating to ‘non-digestible oligo- and polysaccharides including galacto-oligosaccharides, oligofructose, polyfructose and inulin’ EFSA concluded that the food constituents were not sufficiently characterised and therefore do not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
With regard to all three claims mentioned above, EFSA further concluded that a cause and effect relationship between the consumption of the nutrients/substances and the respective health claim cannot be established.
Link to EUR-LexTags: Health claims, EU, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, EFSA
