Recent Trends in the Evaluation of Functional Foods

Abstract

The specific health benefits of individual food components have been recognised for centuries, but only relatively recently has there been a determined effort by pioneering individuals in Countries such as Japan, to take advantage of the huge public health benefits that are on offer. It is a sad fact that in almost all Countries that have adopted Legislation or Codes of Practice, it is the pressure derived from exaggerated health claims on food products that lead to controls. Absurd product health claims created with little or no regard for the scientific evidence results in the Authorities fi ghting a rearguard action to limit claims, rather than adopting an initial neutral attitude and approach that would lead to fresh thinking. In the European Economic Community, current National practices and legislation in the 15 Member States effectively create different approaches towards food fortification, food supplements, herbal products and the availability of non-prescription products. In the absence of a specific Directive from Brussels, it is not surprising that the majority of EU Member States have in place, or are currently working on National Codes of Practice in an attempt to control foods that carry health messages. In an attempt to harmonise the basic requirements for controls on functional foods, the CIAA has produced a pan-European document that sets out the principle requirements. We also need to consider the effect that officially recognising health claims for food will have on specialised product sectors where a surprising degree of freedom already exists for health claims. In my paper I will compare individual Codes of Practice and Legislation and discuss representative examples of food and supplement products. I will point out the current advantages for some market sectors, together with the failings in well-established legislation that can prevent the marketing of bona fide foods with health claims.