Comparative nutrition claim: Snack bar

The Regulation on claims, in Article 9, provides conditions for the use of Comparative claims. These state the following:

• A comparison may only be made between foods of the same category, taking into consideration a range of foods of that category. The difference in the quantity of a nutrient and/or the energy value shall be stated and the comparison shall relate to the same quantity of food.
• Comparative nutrition claims shall compare the composition of the food in question with a range of foods of the same category, which do not have a composition which allows them to bear a claim, including foods of other brands.

This is an extract from the front of a pack of Banana flavoured cereal bars. It is stating that the bars in the pack have “60% less sugar than average cereal bars”:

Article 6(2) states that “a food business operator making a nutrition or health claim shall justify the use of the claim”. On the back of the packet, there is a statement justifying this claim:

Article 6(3) states that “the competent authorities of the Member States may request a food business operator or a person placing a product on the market to produce all relevant elements and data establishing compliance with this Regulation”. The company will therefore need to keep the evidence and data which led to this claim.

For the main index page for this site, go to Food Labelling in the UK: A Guide to the Legal Requirements