NUTRITECH SEMINAR on nutrition and health claims

Tuesday, 01 November 2011 13:35

A seminar on nutrition and health claims was held for Nutritech Industrial Platform members at VTT on 25th October 2011. The impact of EU’s Nutrition and Health claim legislation for food industry’s research and development work and marketing was discussed in the seminar. Senior Principal Scientist Maria Saarela (VTT) and Academy Professor Kaisa Poutanen (VTT) gave presentations and Nutritech Industrial Platform members commented Nutrition and Health claim legislation from food industry’s point of view.

Senior Principal Scientist Maria Saarela (VTT) gave a presentation about the background and current state of Nutrition and Health claim legislation. At the moment a confirmed list of accepted Nutrition claims exists. European Food Safety Authority has given statements about suggested Health claims and a confirmed in EC is expected to be published during 2012. Academy Professor Kaisa Poutanen discussed what the changes in Nutrition and Health claim legislation influence food research. For example metabolomics studies may offer possibilities to find new biomarkers to show beneficial health effects of foods.

It was agreed that more discussion is needed to agree about the collaboration of public health and food development and production actors about a joint approach for promotion of healthy nutrition. In Finland, a workshop will be organised in 2012.

Download presentations:

Maria Saarela_Nutrition and health claims in EU – current status

Kaisa Poutanen_Food properties and communication in the new EFSA frameworkResearch needs and VTT´s role to promote the use of nutritionand health claims