EFSA publishes latest article 13 opinions

EFSA has just published the fifth series of article 13 opinions, adding an additional 536 claims to the 2,187 claims published to date.
A remaining group of 35 claims will be published in July. The European Commission and Member States will then consider EFSA’s scientific advice in deciding on the possible authorisation of such claims for food products.
Of the claims evaluated in this latest series, favourable outcomes include the relation between specific dietary fibres and blood cholesterol; cereal fibre and bowel function; carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks and endurance performance; low sodium and blood pressure; dietary fibre and reduced increase in blood glucose after meals; melatonin and sleep onset and very low calorie diet in relation of body weight.
However, other claims in this series received unfavourable evaluations because the NDA panel concluded that they were not sufficiently specific, such as claims on ‘women’s health’ or ‘mental energy’, or that they referred to food categories which were considered to be too broad – such as ‘fruits and vegetables’, ‘dairy products’ – to be linked to specific effects.
“Other claims were unfavourably assessed because they were not supported by any relevant studies in humans,” says an EFSA spokesman. “Such studies are central to the establishment of a cause and effect relationship between the food or substance concerned and the beneficial health effect claimed.”

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