Download A. Heath claim related to "Vitamin C and protection of DNA, proteins

24-02-2017
WORKING DOCUMENT PREPARED BY THE COMMISSION SERVICES FOR
DISCUSSION OF THE PAFF-GFL MEETING OF 7 MARCH 2017 ON NEW EFSA
OPINIONS (ARTICLE 14.1)
A. Heath claim related to "Vitamin C and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from
oxidative damage" (Question EFSA No Q-2008-175)1 (adopted 13 December 2016,
published 27 January 2017)
Application submitted by Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE, formerly IDACE), 9-31 Avenue
des Nerviens, 1040 Brussels, Belgium, pursuant to Article 14(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No
1924/2006.
1. The EFSA advice
The Panel considered that the food constituent, vitamin C, which is the subject of the health
claim, is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is ‘protection of cells due to its antioxidant
activity’. The target population proposed by the applicant is ‘infants and young children from
birth to 3 years of age’. Protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage is a
beneficial physiological effect.
A cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of vitamin C
and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage.
2. The wording proposed by EFSA
The following wording reflects the scientific evidence: ‘Vitamin C contributes to the
protection of cell constituents from oxidative damage’.
3. Conditions of use proposed by EFSA
The Panel considers that in order to bear the claim, follow-on formulae should comply with
the criteria for the composition of follow-on formulae as laid down in Directive 2006/141/EC;
nutritionally complete foods for special medical purposes intended for use by infants and
nutritionally complete foods for special medical purposes other than those intended for use by
infants should comply with the criteria for the composition of these foods as laid down in
Directive 1999/21/EC; processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children should
comply with the criteria for the composition of these foods as laid down in Directive
2006/125/EC; and other foodstuffs intended for infants and young children should provide at
least 15% of the reference values for the nutritional labelling of foods intended for infants and
young children as laid down in Directive 2006/141/EC. Such amounts can easily be consumed
as part of a balanced diet. The target population is infants and young children up to 3 years of
age. The UL for vitamin C is not established.
1
EFSA Journal 2017;15(1):4685
Prepared by the Commission services.
The above text cannot be regarded as an official position of the European Commission
24-02-2017
B. Heath claim related to 'Nutrimune®’ and immune defence against pathogens in the
gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tracts (Question EFSA No Q-2016-0008)2
(adopted 13 December 2016, published 30 January 2017)
Application submitted by H.J. Heinz Supply Chain Europe B.V., Nieuwe Dukenburgseweg
19, The Netherlands, pursuant to Article 14(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
1. The EFSA advice
The Panel considered that the food constituent, 'Nutrimune®’ (a pasteurised cow's skim milk
fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74), which is the subject of the health claim, is
sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is ‘support of the immune defence in the
gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract’. The target population proposed by the applicant is
young children aged 12–48 months. Immune defence against pathogens in the gastrointestinal
(GI) and upper respiratory tracts is a beneficial physiological effect.
The evidence provided is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between the
consumption of ‘Nutrimune®’ and immune defence against pathogens in the GI and upper
respiratory tracts.
2
EFSA Journal 2017;15(1):4679
Prepared by the Commission services.
The above text cannot be regarded as an official position of the European Commission