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Food Law

Definitions of nutrition and health claims

The following definitions, contained in Article 2(2) of EU Regulation 1924/2006 (as amended for the UK), apply when assessing legal requirements.

Term Definition
“claim” any message or representation, which is not mandatory under any enactment, including pictorial, graphic or symbolic representation, in any form, which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular characteristics;
“nutrient” protein, carbohydrate, fat, fibre, sodium, vitamins and minerals listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, and substances which belong to or are components of one of those categories;
“nutrition claim” any claim which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular beneficial nutritional properties due to:
  • the energy (calorific value) it
    • provides;
    • provides at a reduced or increased rate; or
    • does not provide; and/or
  • the nutrients or other substances it
    • contains;
    • contains in reduced or increased proportions; or
    • does not contain;
“other substance” a substance other than a nutrient that has a nutritional or physiological effect;
“health claim” any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food category, a food or one of its constituents and health;
“reduction of disease risk claim” any health claim that states, suggests or implies that the consumption of a food category, a food or one of its constituents significantly reduces a risk factor in the development of a human disease