ID 924 - Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12

PL: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12
EN: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12
Pdf: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claims is Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12.
The species and strain identity and characteristics of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12 (previously known as Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-12, and also as Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12, but subjected to reclassification) (Masco et al., 2004) have been determined using different genotypic methods (Garrigues et al., 2005; Mayer et al., 2007; Ventura et al., 2001a; Yimin et al., 1999, unpublished). It is important to point out that it may not be possible to differentiate commercially available Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis strains from each other on the basis of traditional genetic methods (e.g. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis) (Engel et al., 2003; Gueimonde et al., 2004), and that it may be necessary to use multi-locus sequencing or genome-wide approaches. The genome of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12, although sequenced (Yimin et al., 1999, unpublished), was not publicly available at the time of the evaluation.
The deposit of the strain in the German culture collection DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen) under number DSM 15954 was reported in the literature (Kajander et al., 2008). In addition, several authors consider the Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12 strain to be also equal to the strain DSMZ 10140 (Ventura et al., 2001b). This view is due to the fact that, although the strain owner did not deposit the strain under the Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12 name, strain DSMZ 10140 was isolated from a yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12 which was deposited by Meile et al. (1997).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12, which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.3. Naturalne funkcje układu odpornościowego (ID 924)

The claimed effect is “natural immune function”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
The claimed effect is not sufficiently defined and no further details were given in the proposed wording or clarifications provided by Member States. Given the multiple roles of the immune system, the specific aspect of immune function that is the subject of the claim needs to be specified, but has not been indicated in the information provided.
The Panel considers that the claimed effect is general and non-specific, and does not refer to any specific health claim as required by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

Recommended target dose for a probiotic is 1.0 x 10 [9] colony forming units (cfu) per serving 5 x 10 [9] organisms per day