Health claim approval
Health claims are a powerful marketing communication tool in promoting your products to consumers. From products with live bacterial cultures to food supplements, these claims can be important for your communication strategy, brand awareness and loyalty.
What are health claims?
In Great Britain and the EU, a health claim is a ‘statement about a relationship between food and health’. Health claims are used on product packaging to communicate health benefits of the product to the consumer in a simple and easy to understand way. It’s important that consumers are protected from false, inaccurate or exaggerated claims, which is why the European Commission and the Great British authorities tightly control what can and cannot be used.
Talk to our experts about your health claim
What health claims can I use on my food labels?
A list of authorised health claims is available for use on food and beverage products in the EU and Great Britain. However, there are also opportunities to apply for new health claims with supporting scientific evidence via dossier submission to the European Commission or Department of Health for Great Britain. New health claims must have a specific link between an ingredient (e.g. plant extract or microorganism) present in the product and a scientifically robust relationship with human health. Here are some examples of categories your health claim could fit into:
- Growth, development and functions of the body
- Slimming or weight control
- Reduction of disease risk
- Children’s health and development
How can Leatherhead Food Research help?
Our team of regulatory experts and scientists can:
- Help you compile your dossier for a health claim approval
- Perform a gap analysis on your health claim dossier
- Submit and oversee your dossier, liaising with the authorities where necessary
- Provide guidance on whether the use of an authorised health claim is appropriate
