20 March 2006 - The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today published an information leaflet that addresses a relatively new development in the food sector in Ireland and the EU – functional foods. In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in the range and availability of functional foods, for example those with cholesterol lowering properties and probiotics.
Functional foods are broadly defined as foods that in addition to providing basic nutrition possess characteristics that can help achieve or maintain good health. The leaflet, Functional Food is aimed primarily at the food industry and provides information on the regulatory environment surrounding functional foods, while reinforcing the legal requirement for these foods to have accurate and legitimate labelling. The functional food market is big in Japan and the US and there is currently a strong emphasis in Ireland on research and development into value added foods, such as functional foods. It is estimated that the functional food market is growing by some 20% a year, a trend that is expected to continue.
The FSAI states that whilst a balanced and varied diet should provide sufficient nutrition for the average person, functional foods are promoted as helping to limit or reduce the impact of a number of disease risk factors and are thus proving popular with many consumers seeking to achieve or maintain good health. The FSAI’s role is to ensure that the labelling is correct and that any health claims made do not mislead consumers.
According to Dr Pat O’Mahony, Chief Specialist, Biotechnology, FSAI, many food companies are investing considerable resources in developing functional food products, but are largely unaware of the significant regulatory hurdles that must be overcome before a new food product can be placed on the market. All products that bear a health or nutrition claim must be supported by appropriate scientific/clinical evidence.
“There is now a proliferation of foods making claims in relation to nutrition or health benefits, with many more in the pipeline, and this leaflet will assist the industry to understand the legal parameters currently governing such products and any claims made. Food labels cannot refer to the prevention or potential cure of a disease, as this would in effect place them in the category of medicines, regulated by the Irish Medicines Board, “said Dr O’Mahony.
New legislation is currently being developed at EU level to harmonise the rules governing the nature and extent of nutrition and health claims associated with food. This pending legislation will clarify many issues to do with health and nutrition claims, but in the meantime, this area is governed by existing food legislation.