Health claims on food products often not used correctly
5th December 2007 by Cor Groenveld
Research from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority in the Netherlands showed that many food products do not meet the EU regulations towards health claims on food products. The Authorities analysed 79 products and found 44 non compliances on 22 products against the regulations. The new EU Directive 1924/2006 towards claims is effective since July 2007 and it also covers health claims.
A claim on a food product is the text showing that a product has certain characteristics. This provides the consumer with extra information, additional to the legal obligated information.
Most of the claims concern a low content of sugar and fat. According to the Dutch Food Association, most of the claims are found on products that are not consumed frequently or in low quantity.
Cor Groenveld is the Global Product Manager for the food services of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd. (LRQA) . He has a degree in Food Technology and worked for 10 years in the food industry before joining LRQA. His background includes being a Quality Assurance Manager, working in product development and production as well as [...]