EFSA health claim opinions

Barry Callebaut wins article 13.5 chocolate-blood circulation claim; probiotic, rhodiola rejected

16-Jul-2012 - Last updated on 18-Jul-2012 at 16:59 GMT

Chocolate just got tastier from a health point of view after EFSA backs it for better blood flow

Swiss chocolate processor Barry Callebaut has won an article 13.5 health claim from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for a dossier linking cocoa flavanols and blood circulation.

But nine other article 13.5, proprietary and emerging science claims were rejected including eight from Swiss firm Nutrilinks and one from Lesaffre International/Lesaffre Human Care:

Krill oil and HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Rhodiola and mental fatigue
Hyaluronic acid and skin against dehydration
Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, D-biotin and pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo L.) and maintenance of normal hair
Keratin, copper, zinc, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine and D-biotin, and maintenance of normal hair
Vitamin E and maintenance of skin permeability (all submitted by Nutrilinks)
Probiotic strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii and gastro-intestinal discomfort (Lesaffre International/Lesaffre Human Care)

Callebaut’s approved claim reads: “Cocoa flavanols help maintain endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which contributes to normal blood flow.”

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) said this applied when 200mg of cocoa flavanols were consumed daily in the form of 2.5g of high-flavanol cocoa powder or 10g of high-flavanol dark chocolate.

Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut, said in a statement: "As the first company receiving such a health claim, we see new market potential both for us and for our customers.”

Look to NutraIngredients and our sister site ConfectioneryNews for more on this opinion later in the week.

The opinion, along with the nine negative opinions will now pass to the European Commission and member states for assessment and validation.

The NDA also rejected an article 14, disease risk factor reduction submission from Health Concern in the Netherlands linking a plant sterol blend and cholesterol reduction.