ID 812 -
Hypromeloza
PL: Hypromeloza
EN: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)Dietary Fibre
Pdf: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC).
HPMC is a food additive (Codex Alimentarius E 464) used as an emulsifier, or as a thickening and suspending agent, which forms colloids when dissolved in water. The viscosity of HPMC is directly related to the concentration of the methoxy group (the higher the concentration the more viscous). HMPC is non-available for digestion in the human intestine. Analytical methods have been developed for the analysis of HMPC.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), which is the subject of the health claims is sufficiently characterised.
2.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego funkcjonowania jelit (ID 812)
The claimed effect is “bowel function”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to aspects of maintaining bowel regularity and normal bowel function. Changes in bowel function within the normal range e.g. reduced transit time, increased frequency of bowel movements or bulk of stools might be interpreted as improvement of bowel function.
The Panel considers that maintenance of normal bowel function might be a beneficial physiological effect.
3.1. Utrzymanie prawidłowego funkcjonowania jelit (ID 812)
Four references were cited to substantiate the claim. One was a technical report and three were references to regulatory frameworks. None of these references are related to HPMC. The Panel
considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these references for the scientific substantiation of the claim.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of HPMC and maintenance of normal bowel function.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
Conditions of "source of" (3g/100g)
from Health Claims regulation
1924/2006, specific
conditions of use are listed in the list of references.
There is no upper safe limit.
HPMC Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is “not specified” as adopted in 1994 by the Scientific Committee on Food for five closely related cellulose derivatives, including hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.
A 2007 ‘Safety assessment of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as a food ingredient’ by G.A. Burdock published in Food and Chemical Toxicology (Elsevier) states that "These data indicate that at the current level of intake, HPMC does not pose a health risk to humans."