Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to sodium
bicarbonate and reducing gastric acid levels (ID 1653) pursuant to Article
13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006[sup]1[/sup]
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2, 3
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Słowa kluczowe:
Sodium bicarbonate
gastric acid levels
health claims
1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is sodium bicarbonate.
Sodium bicarbonate is also known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda (chemically NaHCO3). Sodium bicarbonate is authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/20065 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC6). This evaluation applies to sodium bicarbonate naturally present in foods and those forms authorised for addition to foods and for use in food supplements (Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC).
The Panel considers that the food constituent, sodium bicarbonate, which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised.
2. Znaczenie oświadczenia dla zdrowia człowieka
2.1. Wspomganie utrzymania optymalnego pH w żołądku (ID 1653)
The claimed effect is “supporting an optimal pH environment in the stomach”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
“Supporting an optimal pH environment in the stomach” is not sufficiently defined. In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to reducing gastric acid levels.
The Panel considers that the evidence provided does not establish that reducing gastric acid levels is a beneficial physiological effect for the general population.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of sodium bicarbonate and a beneficial physiological effect in relation to reducing gastric acid levels.
Wnioski
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that:
The food constituent, sodium bicarbonate, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “supporting an optimal pH environment in the stomach”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The evidence provided does not establish that reducing gastric acid levels is a beneficial physiological effect for the general population.
A cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of sodium bicarbonate and a beneficial physiological effect in relation to reducing gastric acid levels.
