Health and nutrition claims related to food supplements

Nutrition and health claims are optional information used in the labelling, presentation, or advertising of foods that suggest or state that a food (food supplement) has certain nutritional properties. The conditions for their use are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

The nutrition claim is any claim which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular beneficial nutritional properties. Typical examples are claims such as "high fiber" or "low-fat".  

The health claim is any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food category, a food or one of its constituents and health. For example: " Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system."

Health and nutrition claims may only be used if they comply with Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

It is important to emphasize that it is prohibited to use so-called "medical" claims for foods, including food supplements, i.e., claims and any graphic or other representations that suggest that a food supplement can cure, alleviate, or prevent a disease (e.g., "cure," "prevention," "infection"). A food supplement is intended to supplement the normal diet, not to treat or prevent diseases. Making so-called "medical" claims is considered misleading to consumers and is contrary to Article 7 paragraph 3 of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers.

Detailed guidelines on health and nutrition claims are available on the website Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce | Vodítka k problematice zdravotních a výživových tvrzení.

The database of health claims is available in English on the website Food and Feed Information Portal Database | FIP.