2 - Labelling and regulatory issues related to functional cereal products

Abstract

Publisher Summary Cereals, especially whole grains, are known to be a rich source of Dietary Fiber (DF), antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, phenolic acids, lignans, and phytosterols. Epidemiological studies indicate that consuming whole grains reduce risk for certain chronic diseases including: weight gain/obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that whole grain intake enhances blood glucose/insulin response, lower blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, improves biomarkers of bowel health, and reduces progression of coronary atherosclerosis. In response to consumers' interests, regulatory agencies have developed methods to disseminate information about the health aspects of certain foods. This chapter explores the regulations for cereal components in both Europe and the United States with a review of the allowable health claims. The discussion focuses on Codex and its definition of health claims, followed by the activities in the European Union related to the recent regulation on nutrition and health claims, with particular attention to the health claims related to cereal components currently in use in the United Kingdom, Sweden and The Netherlands. The chapter further discusses the regulation process in the United States, the health claims allowed for cereals, and the issues related to the labeling and definition of whole grains, followed by future trends in regulations.