Law Advices and Legal Tips

Row Over Health Claims Runs On

The food and Brussels are more openly against each other in an ascending further conflict over health claims on foods.

The European Commission wants the proliferation of claims such as’ good for your cholesterol and similar containment through them one scientific review. That process, which since 2008 is under way, runs all the time especially rough because the EFSA, the Scientific Committee of the Commission that the assessment work, the vast majority rejects claims. The food manufacturers, the big players themselves have extensive sections with scientists, criticized the lack of transparency about the EFSA assessment method.

Claims withdrawn

To the growing discontent in place, yesterday, Danone Actimel and Activia two claims still pending are being withdrawn. According to spokesman Paul Schreurs Danone Netherlands, Unilever, Nestle and Yakult done the same. Unilever would not confirm that and the other two groups were not reached for comment yesterday. In response to the discordant atmosphere, EFSA representatives of industry and the European Parliament invited to a meeting on June 1 in Parma, where the committee sits.

Information

According to Schreurs EFSA aims at that meeting more clarity about the assessments, “information that hopefully illustrates which files must meet. Information that we prefer in advance had been. ” The EFSA in June last year, even though such an informative meeting, set Schreurs. “Even when we have cases withdrawn prior to that subsequently provided additional information re-submit. It did not help and it is by now very cumbersome. ”

Emotions

The industry in Europe has hundreds of claims filed, but the Authority has treated only 84 of which 66 were disapproved. A claim that Danone claims for immuno fortis (increases the resistance) in baby food Nutrilon by EFSA assessed as ‘inadequate’. “That is between approval and disapproval,” said Mirjam Govers, spokesman for the baby division of Danone Netherlands in Wageningen. “The emotions are high accumulated. Our scientists and paediatricians who have participated in our studies, feel deeply hurt in their souls. The Authority draws conclusions in doubt Danone has drawn on the basis of scientific studies over the known scientific tijdschriftren published. ”

“We have built our studies, modeled on the pharmaceutical sector, including animal testing. EFSA scientists, however, give evidence of this practice that they do not know. We understand there is really nothing more. Because our remaining cases not even want to throw to the lions, we have them being withdrawn. On June 1 should be clear how we can submit them again. “