Nutrition issues in Codex: health claims, nutrient reference values and WTO agreements: a conference report

Abstract

BackgroundCodex documents may be used as educational and consensus materials for member governments. Also, the WTO SPS Agreement recognizes Codex as the presumptive international authority on food issues. Nutrient bioavailability is a critical factor in determining the ability of nutrients to provide beneficial effects. Bioavailability also influences the quantitative dietary requirements that are the basis of nutrient intake recommendations and NRVs.Health claimsCodex, EFSA and some national regulatory authorities have established guidelines or regulations that will permit several types of health claims. The scientific basis for claims has been established by the US FDA and EFSA, but not yet by Codex. Evidence-based nutrition differs from evidence-based medicine, but the differences are only recently gaining recognition. Health claims on foods may provide useful information to consumers, but many will interpret the information to mean that they can rely upon the food or nutrient to eliminate a disease risk.Nutrient reference valuesNRVs are designed to provide a quantitative basis for comparing the nutritive values of foods, helping to illustrate how specific foods fit into the overall diet. The INL-98 and the mean of adult male and female values provide NRVs that are sufficient when used as targets for individual intakes by most adults.World Trade Organization agreementsWTO recognizes Codex as the primary international authority on food issues. Current regulatory schemes based on recommended dietary allowances are trade restrictive. A substantial number of decisions by the EFSA could lead to violation of WTO agreements.

Dairy products and inflammation: A review of the clinical evidence

“…In light of the importance of the food matrix on the properties of bioactive nutrients, we endorse that food and nutrition research should shift its focus from the characterization of the nutritional and immunomodulatory properties of isolated nutrients to the characterization of foods, meals, and even dietary patterns. The scientific basis for claims on bioactive food and nutrients established by national regulatory authorities is not harmonized, thereby hindering internationally harmonized market access (Aggett et al, 2012). To date, a very high number of requested health claims (more than 80%) have been rejected by the EFSA's NDA Panel, who underlined the need to identify the molecule(s) responsible of the claimed effect, and their mechanisms of action.…”

Scientific Evidence on Functional Food and Its Commercial Communication: A Review of Legislation in Europe and the USA

“…Out of the 38 studies selected for review, 60.5% ( n = 23) analyzed the EFSA (Aggett, , , ; Asp & Bryngelsson, ; Biesalski, Aggett, & Anton, ; Buttriss, ; Buttriss & Benelam, ; Coppens, , ; Flynn, ; Gilsenan, ; Gorny, ; Kardinaal, Mennen, & Hendriks, ; Lalor & Wall, ; Mitchell, Aggett, Richardson, Stowell, ; O'Connor, ; Reuterswärd, ; Richardson, ; Vero & Gasbarrini, ; Walter, ; Pravst, ; Meisterernst & Haber, ; Gallagher, Meijer, & Richardson, ); a total of 23.7% ( n = 9) analyzed the FDA (Aggett, Hathcock, & Jukes, ; Ellwood et al., ; FDA, 2009; Guzelian & Guzelian, ; Hasler, ; Kuhn, ; Lupton, ; Schneeman, , ) and 15.8% ( n = 6) were comparative analyses of both agencies (Binns, ; Jovicic et al., ; Lalor & Wall, ; Martin, ; Moors, ; Verhagen, Vos, Franch, Heinonen, & van Loveren, ). Of the authors whose articles were selected for review, only four were somewhat affiliated with the agencies they analyzed (Ellwood et al., ; FDA, 2009; Schneeman, , ).…”

“…Both agencies’ guidelines described the characteristics of required substantiation studies. However, the fact that evaluations focus heavily on the specificities of each case has prompted some authors to suggest that procedures for evaluating scientific support for health claims need to be reviewed and revised (Aggett et al., ). Calls have been made to reshape the processes that evaluate scientific substantiation of health claims.…”

“…2. Aggett et al (2012) FDA -Criticizes lack of transparency in the process of evaluating the scientific substantiation of health claims. 3.…”

Resveratrol metabolic fingerprinting after acute and chronic intakes of a functional beverage in humans

“…The numerous health effects reported for resveratrol (RV) have aroused interest in its consumption, and thus a lot of nutraceuticals and functional foods containing this molecule have been developed. But before making nutritional claims, bioavailability studies are required in order to ensure that sufficient amounts of the compound are available in target tissues after consumption of a reasonable dose .…”