Digestible claims
Luca Bucchini said the “most striking success” of the year was a claim for chicory inulin and normal defecation, filed by Beneo and approved in January.
Within a similar health area, an application for the bulk sweetener lactitol filed by DuPont went “predictably well”.
“That EFSA is increasingly predictable is certainly a good thing,” he said.
Eric Chappuis, consulting director for Naturalpha, echoed this and said the lactitol opinion was an example of “open-mindedness of EFSA in terms of evaluation” in that the application contained several low quality studies but the global weight of evidence was taken into account in the ruling. This was also seen with the inulin bowel claim.
He added that draft health claim guidance was also a highlight from the year and again this showed the open mindedness of EFSA’s NDA panel, “contrary to what is commonly believed”.
Ewa Hudson said the 13.5 claim for Beneo's inulin ingredient Orafti was the most “relevant” claim to be approved because it responded to consumer interest in ‘natural’, nutritious ingredients for digestive health.