Food labelling Substantiating your health claim

Transcription

1 Food labelling Substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin Research Dietitian I Nutrition & Health Program 4 June 2018 HEALTH & BIOSECURITY Food Labelling Advisory Group Developing new foods or ingredients Testing composition and function Substantiating the health benefits Formulating healthy products Understanding consumer attitudes Clinical trials Evidence reviews 2 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 1

2 1/06/2018 Labels on Packaged Food Communication tool Considerable regulation Food Standards Code ACCC 3 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin What do consumers think of food labels? 67% agree (either somewhat or strongly) that they trust the information of food labels FSANZ Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 2

3 Consumers view health statements with scepticism % Statement A Statement B 72.5% agreed that the NIP is trustworthy 41.6% agreed that health statements are trustworthy 10 0 Agree completely Agree somewhat Disagree somewhat Disagree completely Don't know Statement A: Statements about health on food packaging are a trustworthy source of information. Statement B: The Nutrient Information Panel (NIP) is a trustworthy source of information. Riley et al Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a Government agency which develops and administers the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Aim: To ensure Australia and New Zealand have a safe food supply and well-informed consumers. FSANZ does not: decide overarching food policy enforce the Code provide advice on food compliance issues regulate therapeutic goods e.g. medicines and complementary medicines 6 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 3

4 Nutrition, health and related claims Standard Food Standards Code Nutrition content claims claims about the presence or absence of certain nutritional properties of food Health claims claim which states, suggests or implies that a food or a property of food has, or may have, a health effect. General level health claims claims which state, suggest or imply that a food or a property of food has, or may have, a health effect. High level health claims claims that refers to a serious disease or a biomarker of a serious disease. 7 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin General level health claims Pre-approved claims 200+ pre-approved food-health relationships listed in schedule 4 of the Code Sufficient body of scientific evidence to support a food-health relationship Only healthy foods can make a health claim- must meet the nutrient profiling scoring criterion 8 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 4

5 Self-substantiated health claims Substantiate a new claim through a process of systematic review Undertake a review of available scientific evidence to determine the level of evidence that exists to support the food-health relationship From FSANZ website 9 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin Self-substantiated health claim Requirements Requirements for a systematic review set out in Schedule 6 of The Code Notify FSANZ & hold the evidence that supports your health claim Provide records that demonstrate the systematic review was conducted in accordance with Schedule 6 AND that the notified relationship is a reasonable conclusion of the systematic review 10 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 5

6 Self-substantiated health claim Considerations Clear definition of the food or property of food and the health effect Evidence must include studies in humans using experimental or observational designs Difficult where these components are new or novel- paucity of published evidence Scoping the evidence before diving in Exact wording of the claim is not specified but should accurately reflect the scientific evidence 11 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin Self-substantiated health claim Benefits of self substantiating a claim Exclusively held by company that notifies the claim An opportunity to set your product apart Appeal to a specific segment of consumers Identify gaps and opportunities in the research 12 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 6

7 A case study Low lactose dairy Not always clear cut What food/s does it apply to? How is the health effect measured and what does this mean to a consumer? How does the evidence align with a public message? Food or property of Lactose Free Milk food: Health effect: Easier to digest compared to regular milk for those with lactose intolerance 13 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin Enforcement FSANZ develops the regulations but doesn t interpret or enforce the Food Standards Code Local state and territory agencies are responsible for enforcement Who might complain? Members of the public Public health groups e.g. Dietitians Association of Australia, Obesity Policy Coalition Competing companies Australian Competition and Consumer Commission False or misleading Can comply with FSANZ code and still be false or misleading 14 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin 7

8 Summary Health claims can set your product apart There is significant regulation around health claims Getting it wrong can be costly If you aren t sure where to start scoping the literature can be a first step 15 Food labelling: substantiating your health claim Genevieve James-Martin Questions? Health & Biosecurity Genevieve James-Martin Research Dietitian t e Genevieve.James- Martin@csiro.au w csiro.au/en/research/health/ HEALTH AND BIOSECURITY 8