New European rules on health claims

The new regulations will help protect consumers from misleading claims. Previously the rules on claims have been very general, making it difficult for consumers to know what a term means and for food companies to be sure they are not misleading the public. In future, claims made in relation to the nutrition and health benefits of food will only be allowed if the claims are based on science, which has been verified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Although the regulation came into effect on Sunday 1 July, there are transition periods to give businesses enough time to comply with the new rules. A list of health claims that can be used on food products is being drawn up by the European Commission (EC). This means that more general claims will be backed up by an explanation as to why the food is ‘healthy’ or what makes it a ‘superfood’.