A claim that links a food or nutrient to a health effect, regulated under Standard 1.2.7 of the Food Standards Code.
A claim that links a food or nutrient to a health effect, regulated under Standard 1.2.7 of the Food Standards Code. A health claim is a statement on a label or in advertising that a food, or a component of a food, has an effect on health. In Australia health claims are regulated under Standard 1.2.7 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The standard divides them into general level health claims, which refer to a nutrient or substance and its effect on a health function, and high level health claims, which refer to a serious disease or a biomarker of a serious disease. To make a health claim, the relationship it describes must be based on scientific evidence. High level claims may only use food-health relationships that FSANZ has pre-approved, while general level claims can use pre-approved relationships or ones a business has self-substantiated following the process set out in the standard and notified to the regulator. A food must also meet a nutrient profiling scoring criterion before it can carry any health claim. For a food business, making a health claim means confirming the food passes the nutrient profiling scoring criterion, choosing a valid food-health relationship, and holding the evidence to support it. For a high level claim the wording and relationship must match a pre-approved entry, while a general level claim can rely on self-substantiation if the business has completed and notified that process. Because health claims are more tightly controlled than content claims, businesses keep documentation showing the food qualifies and the claim is supported, and ensure the relevant nutrient is declared in the nutrition information panel. Claims must remain truthful and not misleading, and therapeutic style claims that a food can prevent, treat or cure disease are not permitted. A yoghurt maker wanting to claim calcium is good for bones and teeth checks the product passes the nutrient profiling scoring criterion, matches the wording to a pre-approved general level food-health relationship, declares calcium in the nutrition information panel, and keeps the supporting records in case the claim is queried.
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.
