No food product will be allowed to be labeled under vague or generic terms such as 'good for your heart', 'help lower cholesterol' or branded as a 'superfood' without scientific backing.
The European Commission, which has been working on the document since 2003, insists the regulations will make food labels in the EU clear, accurate and substantiated.
This, it says, will enable consumers to make informed and meaningful choices when it comes to food and drinks.
Previously the rules on claims have been very general, but this regulation will mean vague nutritional claims like 'low in salt' and 'light' will have to meet a standardized definition agreed by the EU.
Beans, blueberries, broccoli, salmon, spinach, tea, tomatoes, and walnuts have all been hailed as so-called superfoods because they are foods rich in nutrients and some have been linked to having a positive effect on health.
Sales of superfoods have soared in the UK, according to market analyst AC Neilsen, which said sales of blueberries shot up by £55 million (€81 million) in two years, from £40 million (€59 million) in May 2005 to around £95 million (€140 million) in the same month of this year.
In addition to the 132 per cent increase in blueberry sales, spinach sales are reported to have grown by 26 per cent in the same period, with the market currently valued at £42 million (€62 million). Tomato sales have also increased by 16 per cent, said AC Neilsen, with estimated putting the market at £625 million (€921 million).
It is not yet known how the changes could impact on the market, but the UK Food Standards Agency said there is still a "transition period" to give businesses enough time to comply with the new rules, "Therefore it will be some time yet before we see the changes in the shops," a spokesperson added.
In future, any claims made in relation to the nutrition and health benefits of a food will only be allowed if the claims are one of an approved list.
The European Commission is drawing up a list of health claims that can be used on food products. General claims such as 'healthy' or 'good for you' will not be listed but will only be allowed if backed up by an appropriate claim from the list.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned the changes will have a negative impact for health conscious Brits.
BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said: "It is right that claims such as 'reduced fat' or 'good for your heart' are supported by science but customers must not be denied nutrition and health messages they find valuable.
"It could thwart national health campaigns and compromise innovation of healthier products. We will need to keep the impact of this regulation under review."
The FSA is collating a list of claims to send to the commission, which will then be validated by EFSA.
So far the agency's list includes suggestive wording for calcium, iron and folate, as: Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth; Iron helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body; Folate is necessary for the normal structure of the neural tube in developing embryos.
The deadline for businesses to get their claims added to the commission's list is September 21.
