Brussels, 15 February 2006
Briefing note to Members of the European Parliament
Nutrition and Health Claims - We need nutrient profiles and prior authorisation for a healthier Europe.
It is a fact that people consume too much fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Increasing levels of obesity and diabetes, and high levels of heart disease and cancer are the consequences of our current dietary lifestyles. From a health perspective, consumption of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt should therefore be considerably reduced in people's diets. A regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims can play an essential role towards enabling consumers in making healthier choices - but only if claims send the right message.
Health Ministers endorsed unanimously the principle establishing nutrient profiles for foods, which work as a pre-condition for food manufacturers to make a health or a nutrition claim related to their products. In other terms, only foods that have a desirable nutrient profile and thus truly contribute towards a healthy diet will be allowed to bear such claims. This should in principle prevent the use of health and nutrition claims in ways that are confusing to consumers. Such confusion occurs, for instance, in the case of a snack producer overstressing the positive nutritional characteristics of his products while omitting those that may be deleterious for health. Examples of true claims, but wrong messages are easy to find. We have given a few in the note attached.
It is our firm conviction that nutrition and health claims should only be put on food products which constitute a healthier choice and which contribute to a healthier diet. We therefore call on MEPs to keep Article 4 on nutrient profiles in the proposal on claims.
The acceptance of a prior authorisation system for new health claims, rather than a notification system, will also contribute to protection of human health. An authorisation system implies that foods bearing a health claim can be placed on the market only if the claim has been accepted by competent authorities as scientifically substantiated. This will avoid consumers being exposed to unsubstantiated claims on health properties of the food products they buy and will result in a strengthened consumer and health protection across the EU.
We call upon all Members of the European Parliament to support the Member States which unanimously agreed on prior authorisation of new health claims and to vote to keep articles 10 and 12 to 17 in the claims regulation.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET?
THE CLAIM & THE MESSAGE
The claim "rich in Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamins" makes people think this is a product which contributes to their health. However, the fat content is very high: 34.5g/100g.
The sugar content of this product is likely to be very high as well. However, it is not possible to tell this from the nutrition labeling, as the sugar content is not even mentioned.
THE HEALTH EFFECT
The negative impact of the high consumption of fat and sugar (leading to obesity for example) by far exceeds the benefits of consuming calcium, magnesium and vitamins via this product.
Note: According to the UK Food Standards Agency, a product containing 20 grams of fat per 100 grams is considered high in fat.
TRULY HEALTHY FOR OUR CHILDREN?
THE CLAIM & THE MESSAGE
This product claims to be healthy and it is marketed to children. However, it contains 25.6 grams of sugar per 100grams. Although it claims to be rich in milk, milk is only 7.5% of the product.
THE HEALTH EFFECT
This product provides children mainly with a lot of sugar, and not with vitamins and milk.
Note: According to the UK Food Standards Agency, a product containing 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams is considered as high in sugar.
GOOD FOR YOUR HEART?
THE CLAIM & THE MESSAGE
This product claims to be good for stomach and heart because it contains a lot of fibre. However, it also contains a high salt level: 0.6 grams of sodium per 100 grams.
THE HEALTH EFFECT
Consumption of high quantities of salt increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Note: According to the UK Food Standards Agency, a product containing 0.5 grams of sodium per 100 grams is considered high in salt. Sodium and natrium are the same.
WINE MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGER ?
THE CLAIM & THE MESSAGE
The wine is fortified with iron and ginseng which gives the impression that it is less harmful or even protecting your health.
THE HEALTH EFFECT
Such a message will encourage people to drink more wine, and thus more alcohol. For all types of alcohol-related harm, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases and cirrhosis of the liver, the more an individual drinks, the greater the risk of harm.
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