Health claim — Food Safety Glossary

A claim that links a food or nutrient to a health effect, regulated under Standard 1.2.7 of the Food Standards Code.

Frequently asked questions

What is a health claim?

It is a claim that a food or one of its components affects health, such as calcium being good for bones, as opposed to simply stating how much of a nutrient is present.

What is the difference between general and high level health claims?

General level claims refer to a nutrient and a health function, while high level claims refer to a serious disease or a biomarker of one and can only use pre-approved relationships.

Which standard covers health claims?

Standard 1.2.7 of the Food Standards Code regulates both nutrition content claims and health claims and sets the conditions for making them.

What is the nutrient profiling scoring criterion?

It is a test a food must pass before it can carry any health claim, so that claims are not made on foods high in components such as saturated fat, sugar or sodium.

Can a food claim to prevent or cure disease?

No. Therapeutic style claims that a food can prevent, treat or cure disease are not permitted under the food standards, which separate food from therapeutic goods.

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