ID 1147 -
Beverages low / free of energy
PL:
EN: Beverages low / free of energy
Pdf:
1.12. Foods and beverages “low in energy”, “energy-free” and “energy-reduced” (ID 1146, 1147)
The food that is the subject of the health claims is ―food reduced/low/free of energy‖ and ―beverages low/free of energy‖ related to the following claimed effects: body weight management.
The conditions of use in relation to these claims refer to the provisions laid down in the Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods:
- A claim that a food is low in energy may only be made where the product does not contain more than 40 kcal (170 kJ)/100 g for solids or more than 20 kcal (80 kJ)/100 mL for liquids.
- A claim that a food is energy-free may only be made where the product does not contain more than 4 kcal (17 kJ)/100 mL.
- A claim that a food is energy-reduced may only be made where the energy value is reduced by at least 30 %, with an indication of the characteristic(s) which make(s) the food reduced in its total energy value.
The Panel notes that whereas the absolute energy content required in foods and beverages to qualify for a ―low in energy‖, and for an ―energy-free‖, claim is specified, it is not for ―energy-reduced‖ claims.
The vast majority of the references provided for the scientific substantiation of these claims were observational (cross-sectional and prospective cohort) studies which assessed the effects of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption on body weight, and on the effects of lifestyle (including television-watching, physical activity patterns, consumption of meals outside home, and consumption of certain types of meals, such as fast food menus and meat products) and level of education on body weight changes and obesity prevalence, mostly in children. Only a few human intervention studies, which assessed the effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages vs. sugar-free beverages containing intense sweeteners, have been provided, and no studies on the effects of consuming ―low-energy‖ or ―energy-free‖ solid foods on body weight, either per se or in replacement of ―energy dense‖ or ―higher energy‖ foods, have been provided.
Therefore, from the information provided, the Panel assumes that foods and beverages ―low in energy‖, ―energy-free‖ and ―energy-reduced‖ should replace ―energy dense‖ food or beverages in order to obtain the claimed effects. However, no information regarding the amount, frequency of consumption and/or the foods or beverages which should be replaced by foods and beverages ―low in energy‖, ―energy-free‖ or ―energy-reduced‖ in order to obtain the claimed effects has been provided; the only exception being foods and beverages containing intense sweeteners in replacement of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.
A claim on foods and beverages containing intense sweeteners in replacement of sugar and maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight has already been assessed with an unfavourable outcome (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2011b).
The Panel considers that foods and beverages ―low in energy‖, ―energy-free‖ or ―energy-reduced‖, and the ―energy dense‖ or ―higher energy‖ foods and beverages which they should replace, are not sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects considered in this section.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship cannot be established between the consumption of foods and beverages ―low in energy‖, ―energy-free‖ or ―energy-reduced‖ and the claimed effects considered in this section.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
Meet the relevant annex requirements in Health Claim Regulation 1924/2006/EC
