Cargill’s erythritol dental health claim rejected by EFSA
27 Jul 2017 --- Cargill cannot prove its EU Article 14 claim submission [disease risk reduction claim] that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90 percent erythritol and the reduction of dental plaque, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Cargill had applied to be able to legally make a claim on its confectionery. As a rule: “health claims are prohibited unless they comply with the general and specific requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, which establishes rules governing the European Community authorization of health claims made on foods,” EFSA says. Cargill wanted to make the following claim possible on confectionery products sweetened with erythritol: “Sugar-free hard confectionery sweetened with at least 90 percent Zerose erythritol has been shown to reduce dental plaque. High content/level of dental plaque is a risk factor in the development of caries.” The company had therefore submitted a dossier to EFSA aiming to prove that the effect of erythritol: “could be explained by a reduction in dental plaque resulting from reduced growth and adherence of common streptococcal oral bacteria to tooth surfaces and reduced acid production by the bacteria.” However, EFSA experts say they could not substantiate the claim “in the absence of evidence for an effect on the incidence of dental caries in vivo in humans.” A large issue with the claim was the fact that Cargill did not specify which properties of Zerose erythritol sugar-free hard confectionery were “unique in relation to the claimed effect as compared to other sugar-free hard confectionery containing 90 percent erythritol.” EFSA experts, therefore, decided that Cargill could not make a claim unique to its product. Problems with one of the studies that Cargill used were also pointed out by EFSA scientists: “In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that one human intervention study […] with some methodological limitations (e.g. data analysis for completers only) did not show an effect of sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90 percent erythritol on the incidence of dental caries in children on either mixed or permanent dentition.” The food constituent Zerose erythritol, the subject of the claim, “is a low molecular weight polyol that has zero calories and is non-glycaemic and non-insulinemic,” according to the EFSA report. “The erythritol is in the form of sugar-free hard confectionery sweetened with at least 90 percent Zerose erythritol.” Sugar-free hard confectionery is classified by EFSA as candies with a hard texture with no added sugar, and sugar-free hard confectionery includes hard candies, pastilles, lozenges, tablets and breath-freshening micro sweets. The full opinion of EFSA from its journal can be read here. By Paul Creasy To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com
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Tel. +32 15 400 411 Fax. +32 15 400 410 ACTIVE CATEGORIESBakery Mixes and Other Bakery Products, Cocoa and Cocoa Products, Fibers, Flavor Enhancers, Hydrocolloids, Stabilisers and Gelling Systems, Soya and Soya Products, Starch and Starch Products, Sweeteners (Non-Sugar) More than simply a food ingredients supplier, Cargill deeply understands our customers' strategies, consumers, distribution channels and competition. We deliver solutions that help the food industry and beverage manufacturers drive growth through new product innovation and reformulation. Cargill helps reduce costs through supply chain and manufacturing process efficiency and managing commodity price risk. Cargill helps our food industry and beverage manufacturing customers create unique products that fill product pipelines and reduce time-to-market by connecting our diverse food ingredients supplier capabilities — marketers, research scientist, application experts, risk managers and manufacturing process engineers — and seamlessly delivering these resources to customers. As a service and solution-oriented food ingredients supplier, our broad portfolio helps our customers address their food product development needs across the spectrum of applications and categories. Cargill helps our customers safely manufacture products every day around the world by reliably originating and distributing grain, oilseeds and other food ingredient commodities and by processing a diverse food ingredients supplier portfolio that spans core and specialty ingredients, ingredient systems and finished food systems. Related ArticlesRegulatory News Oleic acid CHD claims success: US FDA approves qualified claim petition on high level foods20 Nov 2018 --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded positively to a petition for a new qualified health claim for edible oils containing oleic acid. As a result, products with an oleic acid content upward of 70 percent, such as certain olive, canola and sunflower oils, can be labeled as carrying cardiovascular benefits, but only when replacing heart-damaging saturated fat. Health & Nutrition News Treat: Arla Foods Ingredients launches high-protein indulgent biscuit concept19 Nov 2018 --- Arla Foods Ingredients has launched a new protein biscuit concept that is touted as being tasty as well providing all the benefits of protein-rich foods. The Whey-Pro Biscuit concept demonstrates that it is possible to combine a high-protein claim with an indulgent taste, says Arla. Health & Nutrition News Gluten-free diet health benefits actually down to change in dietary fiber sources, study finds19 Nov 2018 --- Following a gluten-free diet can lead to a reduction of intestinal discomfort, such as bloating, but this may be due to a change in dietary fiber composition, suggest Danish researchers. The University of Copenhagen study notes that the healthy, gluten-free diets in their study required a shift of fiber sources from wheat and rye to vegetables, brown rice, corn, oat and quinoa, and that certain health improvements were down to these sources – not the absence of gluten. Health & Nutrition News Navigating the digestive health space: Probiotic strain specificity and microbiome key to future NPD16 Nov 2018 --- Emerging science linking a healthy microbiome to nearly every facet of health, as well as the ongoing media reporting on probiotics, have helped drive consumer interest in gut health. This growing area offers a wealth of opportunities to formulators, but due to regulatory demands and increasing consumer scrutiny, a clear view of how to navigate this space is vital. Health & Nutrition News Kellogg’s debuts gut-boosting cereal with prebiotics, probiotics and fiber15 Nov 2018 --- Kellogg’s has launched a “3-in-1” cereal aimed at making digestive wellness support easily accessible in food. The new wellness brand HI! Happy Inside delivers prebiotics, probiotics and fiber in an all-in-one cereal. The launch comes at a time when interest in digestive health seems to only continue to grow. More Articles |
