Article 13.1: winners and losers

02-Oct-2009 - Botanicals, probiotics and weight management claims were the big losers in yesterday’s first batch of article 13.1 claims, with not a positive opinion among them.

Devil not so bad in EFSA health claim details

02-Oct-2009 - At first glance yesterday’s publication of the first batch of 94 article 13.1 health claim opinions, is a worst-case scenario for industry, with claims for the likes of omega-3s, beta-glucan, folate, probiotics and taurine all drawing negative opinions from EFSA scientists.

EFSA says yes to third of first Article 13.1 claims

01-Oct-2009 - Around one third of the first batch of article 13.1 health claim applications have drawn positive opinions from EFSA. Professor Albert Flynn, the head of EFSA’s health claims assessment panel, tells NutraIngredients.com why some claims were favoured over others.

Scientists unite to stop omega-3 ‘Euro-mad rush’

30-Sep-2009 - Twenty one of the world’s leading omega-3 scientists have petitioned the European Commission in a last-ditch effort to convince EU rule makers its omega-3 nutrition labelling plans are flawed and should be significantly revised.

Exclusive interview

How tomatoes are informing Danone's probiotic claims

29-Sep-2009 - Danone’s newly submitted article 14 probiotic, diarrhoea health claim, is a product of the ongoing learning process that is occurring as companies come to grips with the reality of the European Union’s new health claim regime, according to the French dairy giant’s regulation chief.

Special edition: Brain health

Regulation: Communicating cognitive health

25-Sep-2009 - In the sixth article in our series on brain health, regulations governing the area are explored.

Ultra-sensitive nutrient assays to boost health claim dossiers

25-Sep-2009 - UK-based third party testing service, HFL Sports Science, has developed a series of ultra-sensitive lab assays that will allow supplements and functional food manufacturers to more accurately measure molecular profiles and their potential health effects.

Special edition: Brain health

Supply: The back-end of brain health

23-Sep-2009 - In the third article in this brain health series, we break down some of the key ingredients in the sector.

Danone to resubmit bolstered article 13.5 dossiers

22-Sep-2009 - Danone will resubmit withdrawn article 13.5 European Union probiotic health claims by year’s end with additional trials added to the dossiers to strengthen their claims, according to a health claims expert working with the company.

Codex can unite Asian food regulations

22-Sep-2009 - The importance of the Codex Alimentaria in developing regulatory harmony in a region like Asia where rules differ so greatly, has been emphasised at a recent event hosted by the Asian arm of Belgian consultancy, EAS.

Weekly comment

Are health claims curbing freedom of speech?

21-Sep-2009 - The US FDA is being sued over its health claims regime – actions that are unlikely to succeed according to most pundits – but they raise serious questions about healthy food messaging and free speech that are being felt globally.

Special edition: Market insights

F&S: The danger of overstepping health claim boundaries

17-Sep-2009 - Health claim confusion has never been greater as industry adjusts to the new European health claims process. As part of a NutraIngredients series canvassing analyst insights, market researcher Frost & Sullivan urges caution.

Danone re-enters EU probiotic health claim game

16-Sep-2009 - Global probiotics leader, Danone, has submitted a new disease reduction article 14 health claim linking consumption of its probiotic drinking yoghurt, Actimel, and diarrhoea, after withdrawing three article 13.5 immunity and digestive health claims in April.

Special edition: Market insights

Mintel: Preparing for a functional foods turnaround

15-Sep-2009 - The intrinsic health benefits of foods are likely to become a key focus of functional food growth in Europe as industry prepares for a major shift in the coming year. As part of a special NutraIngredients series canvassing analyst insight, Mintel tells us why.

Health claims focus

European Union health claims: where to now?

09-Sep-2009 - By this time next year, one of the central ambitions of Europe’s brand-spanking new nutrition and health claims system may well be in place – a centralised list of approved claims available for all to use across the European Union bloc.

Health claims focus

Inside Europe’s health claim conundrum

08-Sep-2009 - In the third part of this European health claims series we examine some of the key decisions to see where companies have got it wrong – and right.

Health claims focus

The evolution of Europe’s health claims system

07-Sep-2009 - In part two of a series on the European nutrition and health claims regulation, we take a look into the past to scrutinize the reasons for its inception and wonder whether it is meeting its goals.

Health claims focus

Timeline of key EU health claim opinions

04-Sep-2009 - In the first of a special four-part series, NutraIngredients constructs a timeline of key opinions issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) since it got the ball rolling back in August last year.

World first probiotic 100% juice launched

02-Sep-2009 - Swedish dairy pioneer, Skånemejerier, has extended its Scandinavian-leading juice range, Bravo, to incorporate probiotic strains, believed to be the first in the world to do so in a fresh 100 per cent juice product with a cold-fighting claim.

Austrian supplements infringe isoflavones patent

19-Aug-2009 - An Austrian court has ruled against a red clover food supplement for making misleading menopausal claims in breach of a European health indications patent held by the Australian firm, Novogen.

Rosehip extract censored over bone health claims

19-Aug-2009 - UK supplements company, Goldshield Healthcare Direct, has run foul of the advertising watchdog there for making misleading joint health claims in full-page national newspaper adverts about a rosehip extract.

Targeted and talkative: the Benecol success story

13-Aug-2009 - UK Benecol licensee, McNeil Nutritionals, says “daily messaging” of its core audience is the key behind its rise to leadership in the UK cholesterol-lowering foods market.

EU tomato extract health claim wording gets user-friendly treatment

13-Aug-2009 - UK start-up Provexis is confident the European Commission, in consultation with member states, will issue consumer-friendly wording for its tomato extract blood circulation health claim.

EFSA Health Claim Opinion

EFSA accepts bone health claim for calcium, vitamin D

10-Aug-2009 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has accepted a health claim linking calcium and vitamin D to bone health in older women, but said there is insufficient evidence to support the proposed dosage levels.