European Food Safety Authority criticises probiotic yogurts in review
This week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed 808 “general function health claims”, including opinions on probiotic yoghurts, such as Yakult.
To date, the EFSA has assessed over 1,700 claims from a list of 4,637 that have been sent to the European Commission and Member States, which are responsible for authorising such claims..
The panel assessing the claims considers all available scientific data before reaching a conclusion. If there is insufficient evidence to support the health claims, the review is unfavourable.
Reviews carried out usually investigate claims around vitamins, minerals, weight management, fatty acids, vision, heart health, probiotic yoghurts and digestion.
The EFSA will rule the investigation unfavourably if the general health claim does not specifiy which particular ingredient is actively improving health. An example of this is cereal that makes a claim about ‘dietary fibre’ but does not specify a particular fibre.
Additionally, some company’s’ investigations lacked evidence that supported the claim they’re beneficial to help maintain or improve bodily functions, while others weren’t precise when specifiying how claims are being carried out (e.g. a health food claiming it gives you vitality – where does that vitality come from, how does it work?)
Yakult
Probiotic drinks, such as Yacult were criticised in the panel’s review. They examined a dossier detailing 12 studies, which were submitted by Yakult. The studies aimed to support the claim that the proprietary strain of probiotic bacteria helped maintain immune defenses against the common cold. The panel decided all 12 studies were in adequate there is in fact no evidence to support this claim.
Danone
Danone is currently the market leader in probiotic products. They’ve recently had to withdraw claims from their products, and no longer state that Actimel and Activia boost the immune system and aid digestion.
With the “mmm Danone” and “Bifidus Digestivum” adverts ingrained in the public’s mind, it is likely that many will carry on buying the products (which all have high margins and make big profits), blissfully unaware that they’re drinking something that ISN’T healthy and WON’T do them any good. (I highly doubt Danone will spend thousands on a marketing campaign to correct their misinformation!)
According to the Guardian, nearly 60% of UK households regularly buy probiotic drinks from the UK food industry, which is worth over £200m a year.
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