BEE-L Archives

Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

BEE-L@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:54:25 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (18 lines)
European Food Watchdog Slashes Dubious Health Claims

BRUSSELS—Do antioxidants prevent premature aging? Do dried plums help maintain normal bowel function? Does lutein help your vision; does chewing sugarless gum prevent plaques; and does fermented whey improve gut health?

The answers: No, no, no, no, and no, according to Europe’s food safety watchdog, which on 25 February issued a scientific mass- verdict on more than 400 so-called health claims, the promises that food producers make on their labels and in advertisements. The opinions come from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy, which also rejected purported health benefits of certain peptides, honey, black and green teas, and a raft of other substances.

The decisions are the latest installment in a gargantuan and controversial effort by EFSA to validate more than 4000 health claims used by the food industry across the continent. More than a year behind schedule, the agency has more than 3000 claims to go—but so far, it has rejected more than 80% of those it has looked at. The food industry may eventually have to stop using those claims.

Science 5 March 2010: Vol. 327. no. 5970, p. 1189

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L

ATOM RSS1 RSS2