Health claims: What are the evidence-based facts? Requirements for the documentation of health-promoting properties of foods

A uniform evaluation of the requirements to be complied with when promoting and advertising products with specific health claims is of decisive import ance for both the manufacturer and food control. It is the purpose of this contribution to show, from the angle of a national consumer protection auth ority, which scientific data are sufficient to document the health effects claimed and should, therefore, be submitted. For reasons of consumer protec tion, the requirements for scientific evidence regarding the health effects of foods must be of a high standard. In comparison, the interest of the ma nufacturer and distributor of a food in promoting his product by doubtful h ealth claims must remain secondary. In addition, reliability in the food in dustry is not enhanced when new products with doubtful health benefits are placed on the market. In the interest of the consumer and competition, high standards should be set by scientific bodies and national consumer protect ion authorities.