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03 Issues & Trends
Cereal Foods World, Vol. 65, No. 3
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/CFW-65-3-0031
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​Health Claims for Food—The Need for More Harmonization
Frank Thielecke1,2 and Wai Mun Poon3

1 Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences, 8105 Regensdorf-Zurich, Switzerland, and T2 Bene Ltd., Bettenstrasse 60a, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/frank-thielecke-phd-69401932, #nutrition, #regulatory, #foodscience; Twitter: #nutrition, #science, #healthregulation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4975-5327; ResearcherID: https://publons.com/researcher/3508419/frank-thielecke (AAJ-3422-2020)

2 Corresponding author. Tel: +41 (0)79 536 06 31; E-mail: frank.b.thielecke@gmail.com

3 #19-61, Tower 2, 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616, Singapore. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wai-mun-poon-61aa72b


© 2020 Cereals & Grains Association

Abstract

A health claim is a strong marketing tool for food manufacturers. Countries put legislation regulating health claims in place with the aim of ensuring consumer protection as well as fair trade. The underlying principles for establishing health claims are laid out in the Codex Alimentarius. However, significant diversity in health claim regulations still exists internationally and presents challenges in terms of resources for health claim applications, as well as trade risk for manufacturers and organizations that are active in a global market. Using European and Asian legislation as examples, the existing diversity in health claim regulations is highlighted. The resulting challenges warrant further harmonization between countries that have health claim regulations.




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