How to read a health claim on a European food package

In the European Union, the United Kingdom, and aligned international food regulatory environments, commercial labeling and advertising claims on foods and supplements are strictly governed by statutory law — primarily Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

EFSA Scientific Evaluation & Authorized Wording

Under this legal framework, a product may not state or imply any relationship between an ingredient and human health unless the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated peer-reviewed human clinical evidence and the European Commission has formally entered the claim on the Union Register of authorized claims.

Authorized Article 13 (general function) and Article 14 (disease risk reduction) claims are narrow, precise, and standardized. For example:

• "Oat beta-glucan has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease." (Requires 3g of beta-glucan per daily portion).
• "Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system." (Requires a significant source per 100g/portion).

Article 12 Prohibitions: Rapid & Quantified Weight Loss Claims

Article 12(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 explicitly outlaws any claim that makes reference to the rate or amount of weight loss. Advertising guaranteeing specific kilogram or pound reductions over specific time intervals (e.g., "lose 5kg in 14 days") is inherently illegal under EU consumer law.

The Botanical "On-Hold" Register

Over 2,000 health claims concerning botanical ingredients (such as green tea extracts, turmeric/curcumin, ashwagandha, and ginger) remain in an "on-hold" transitional state because EU regulators have not finalized assessment criteria for traditional herbal evidence. These products are legal to distribute as food supplements, but marketing cannot claim verified curative efficacy.

Consumer Guidance

When assessing nutritional products, consumers should look for transparent ingredient panels displaying exact milligrams, standardized active constituent percentages, and third-party purity testing rather than speculative marketing headlines.