Nutrition claims
Nutrition claims serve as a tool to inform consumers about the increased, reduced, or absent nutrients in food products. These claims are designed to highlight specific nutritional properties, such as "high fibre," "reduced calories," "sugar-free," or "contains Vitamin C." The Annex of Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 provides a comprehensive list of permitted nutrition claims, along with the conditions that must be met for each. This ensures that claims are standardized, accurate, and not misleading, allowing consumers to make informed dietary choices based on reliable information.
When making comparative nutrition claims, such as "reduced saturated fat," specific rules apply to ensure fairness and clarity. The comparison must be made within the same food category and involve products of the same quantity. Additionally, the comparison should include a range of similar products that do not already carry a claim and are from different brands. The difference in nutrient content must be clearly stated so that consumers can easily understand the benefit. For example, if a product claims to be a "source of omega-3 fatty acids," it must contain at least 0.3 g of alpha-linolenic acid per 100 g or 40 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per 100 g. For a "high omega-3 fatty acids" claim, the thresholds are even higher: 0.6 g of alpha-linolenic acid or 80 mg of EPA and DHA per 100 g.
Claims related to unsaturated fats must also meet precise criteria. A product labeled as "high monounsaturated fat" must derive at least 45% of its fatty acids from monounsaturated fat, with these fats providing more than 20% of the product’s energy. Similarly, a "high polyunsaturated fat" claim requires that at least 45% of the fatty acids come from polyunsaturated fat, again contributing over 20% of the product’s energy. For a "high unsaturated fat" claim, the threshold is even stricter: 70% of the fatty acids must be unsaturated, with these fats accounting for more than 20% of the product’s energy. These regulations ensure that nutrition claims are both meaningful and scientifically valid, helping consumers trust the information provided on food labels.