What is a 'health claim'?

A 'health claim' relates to the alleged consequences of consuming a product, whereas a 'nutrition claim' relates to the content of, for example, calcium, fibre or vitamins in a product.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) definition:

'A health claim is any statement used on labels, in marketing or in advertising that health benefits can result from consuming a given food or from one of its components such as vitamins and minerals, fibre, and 'probiotic' bacteria.'

There are different types of health claims, such as:

• statements that a food can help reinforce the body’s natural defences or enhance learning ability, called 'general function' claims;
• claims on the reduction of disease risk and other substances that may improve or modify the normal functions of the body.