New Zealand Gets Proposed Health Claim Standard

New Zealand Gets Proposed Health Claim Standard

CANBERRA, Australia--Tasmanian food regulatory body Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued its proposed health standard on nutrition, health and related claims about food and has invited public comment. Currently, some maintenance claims are allowed on food labels, according to Melanie Fisher, general manager of food standards. However, with the exception of claims about the benefit of consumption of folate by pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects, there is a prohibition on other types of disease-type claims.

Fisher explained there are two levels of health claims outlined in the new proposed standards. First, general level claims can involve assertions on the content of a nutrient or on beneficial effect(s) on a non-serious disease; while high level claims describe the function of a nutrient, vitamin, mineral or other substance in relation to a serious disease.

"All claims must be substantiated with scientific evidence and, in the case of high level claims, these will be assessed by FSANZ before the product goes on the market," said Fisher, who added the proposed standard would assist consumers to make healthier food choices and may encourage the development of healthier food products. She further noted there will be criteria for foods allowed to make claims, including limits on fat, sodium and sugar content.

The proposed standards are open for public comment from Nov. 28, 2005, until Feb. 22, 2006; a guide to the proposed standard is available at www.foodstandards.gov.au.

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