Food Quality Magazine
a) a biochemical process or outcome;
b) a physiological process or outcome;
c) a functional process or outcome;
d) growth and development;
e) physical performance;
f) mental performance;
Vitamin B6 ‘contributes to normal
immune system function’
Vitamin B12 ‘contributes to normal
immune system function’
Vitamin C ‘contributes to the normal
immune system function’
g) a disease, disorder or condition
Vitamin D ‘contributes to the normal
function of the immune system’.
General level health claims (GLHC)
Normal collagen formation
A ‘general level health claim’ is defined to ‘mean a health claim that is
not a high level health claim’.
Vitamin C ‘contributes to normal
collagen formation for the normal
structure of cartilage and bones’
Pre-approved FHRs for GLHCs
Vitamin C ‘contributes to normal
collagen formation for the normal
function of teeth and gums’
Here is a selection of the 212
pre-approved FHRs for making
GLHCs for vitamins and minerals and
the substantiated health effects:
Free radicals
Copper ‘contributes to cell protection from free radical damage’
Manganese ‘contributes to cell protection from free radical damage’
Selenium is ‘necessary for cell protection from some types of free radical damage’
Vitamin C ‘contributes to normal
collagen formation for the normal
function of skin’
Reduction of tiredness and fatigue
Iron ‘contributes to the reduction of
tiredness and fatigue’
Magnesium ‘contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue’
Folate ‘contributes to the reduction
of tiredness and fatigue’
Zinc ‘contributes to cell protection
from free radicals’
Niacin ‘contributes to the reduction
of tiredness and fatigue’
Vitamin C ‘contributes to cell protection from free radical damage’
Pantothenic acid ‘contributes to the
reduction of tiredness and fatigue’
Vitamin E ‘contributes to cell protection from free radical damage’
Riboflavin ‘contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue’
Oxidative stress
Vitamin B6, B12 and C contributes
to the reduction of tiredness and
fatigue’
Riboflavin ‘contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress’.
Immune system function
Copper is ‘necessary for normal immune system function’
Iron is ‘necessary for normal immune system function’
Selenium is ‘necessary for normal
immune system function’
Zinc is ‘necessary for normal immune system function’
Folate ‘contributes to normal immune system function’
Vitamin A ‘contributes to normal
immune system function’
26
ISSUE 04 | OCTOBER 2015
Normal energy metabolism
Calcium, manganese, magnesium,
and Vitamins B6, B12 and C are
approved to claim the health effect:
‘contributes to normal energy metabolism’
Iodine and phosphorus approved for
the health effect: ‘necessary for normal energy metabolism’.
Self substantiated FHRs for GLHCs
When a food business wants to label
food with a GLHC about a nutrient
or other property of food, which is
not listed in the new health claims
standard, the food business must
substantiate the FHR through a process of systematic review. Most
importantly, a systematic review of
the evidence to establish a FHR must
include human studies and cannot
ssrely on animal or in vitro studies
alone. The elements of a systematic
review that must be complied with
to self- substantiate a FHR are reproduced in Box A.
Notified self-substantiated food-health relationships
Once a FHR has been self-substantiated according to the prescribed
systematic review process, FSANZ
must be notified (before the food is
placed onto the market) to enable
the inclusion of the details to an
online register. FSANZ is not involved
in assessing the quality of the systematic review, nor whether the FHR
is indeed is a ‘reasonable conclusion
of the systematic review’ – the food
business must ‘certify’ this. If, once
the food is advertised and sold, concerns are raised as to the validity of
any claim used in the sale of food
based on a self-substantiated FHR
it is the relevant state food regulatory body with enforcement powers
which investigate any allegations of
non-compliance with the new health
claim standard.
Food-health relationships notified
to FSANZ (but systematic review of
evidence not checked, nor approved) to date include, but are not
limited to:
Apple cider vinegar and the health
effect ‘daily intake of apple cider
vinegar can help reduce body weight
and body fat in overweight adults’
notified to FSANZ by Capilano Honey
Limited
Wheat bran fibre and the health
effect: ‘increases stool weight; and
reduces intestinal transit time’ notifed to FSANZ by Kellogg (Aust) Pty
Limited
Zespri green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’) and the health effect: ‘can contribute to normal
bowel function’ notified to FSANZ by
Zespri International Ltd
Green Tea Catechins (GCTs) with