How to include nutritional claims for vitamin E?
Nutritional claims, found on the labels and advertisements of many food and beverage products, are essential to provide nutritional and health information to consumers. Food claims can highlight positive or differential aspects of products, offering insights into their potential health benefits.
This article will go deep into various types of food claims, European and U.S. regulations, and the specific requirements for making nutritional claims about vitamin E.
Recognizing and understanding these claims is essential for consumers, to be aware and make decisions about their diets. And for manufacturers, to ensure compliance with legal standards.
What are nutritional claims?
A food claim refers to any statement or implication made on food packaging or advertising that relates to the characteristics, benefits, or quality of the food product. These claims do not include food information that is required by law.
For example, a nutrition declaration that states the amount of protein in the food. This is not a “claim” because a nutrition declaration is required by legislation. However, the statement “a good source of protein” is a claim because it is not required by legislation but is highly regulated to ensure they are truthful and not misleading to consumers.
Food claims can be broadly categorised into three types.
Nutrient content claims
Describe the level of a nutrient in the food, such as “low fat”, “high fiber”, “sugar-free”, or “contains omega-3”.
Health claims
Describe a relationship between a food, a food component, or a dietary supplement ingredient and reducing the risk of a disease or health-related condition. For instance, “adequate calcium throughout life, as part of a well-balanced diet, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis”.
Structure/function claims
Describe the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient intended to affect normal structure or function in humans, such as “supports immune health” or “helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels”. Unlike health claims, they do not refer to disease reduction.
To ensure these claims are accurate and legally compliant, manufacturers must adhere to the specific regulations and standards set forth by relevant authorities. This includes providing evidence that their products meet the required nutrient thresholds, thus ensuring that the claims are not misleading and are scientifically substantiated.
Regulations governing nutritional claims
In the EU, food claims are regulated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (lastly amended by Regulation (EU) No 1047/2012).
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) governs food claims under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
Nutritional claims specify the presence, absence, or quantity of a nutrient in a food product. These include terms like “low fat”, “high fiber”, “sugar-free”, and “reduced sodium”. Each of these terms is strictly defined by regulatory guidelines to ensure uniformity across products. For example, for a product to be labelled “low fat”, it must contain no more than a specified amount of fat per serving, typically 3 g or less. Similarly, a “sugar-free” product must contain less than 0.5 g of sugar per serving.
Moreover, nutritional claims can be made both on products with specific ingredients known for their beneficial properties and on foods fortified with nutrients that naturally lack them.
Following EU regulations, a product like orange juice fortified with calcium must contain at least 15% of the nutrient reference value (NRV) per 100g or per 100ml to be labeled as a “source of calcium”. If it contains at least 30% of the NRV, it can be labeled as “high in calcium”.
Nutritional claims on vitamin E
Vitamins are common ingredients that support nutritional claims, as its presence in food and nutraceutical products is perceived as synonymous of nutritional added value. In particular, vitamin E is a powerful biological antioxidant that plays a vital role in protecting cells from free-radical damage. It is essential for immune function, skin health, and overall cellular activity.
The nutritional claims related to vitamin E can vary depending on EU or US regulations. According to EFSA guidelines, a product can claim to be a “source of vitamin E” if it contains more than 1.8 mg per 100g of product. For a “high in vitamin E” claim, the product must contain at least 3.6 mg per 100g.
The FDA allows products to be labelled as a “good source of vitamin E”, or with the claim “contains/provides vitamin E” if they provide 10-19% of the Daily Value (DV) per serving. This corresponds to 1.5 mg/Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACC).
To be labelled as “high/rich in vitamin E” or as “excellent source of vitamin E” the product must provide 20% or more of the recommended daily intake (15 mg), which corresponds to 3.0 mg/RACC.
NUTRABIOL® E: natural vitamin E from BTSA for nutritional claims
Recognizing these standards, BTSA’s Nutrabiol® E is designed to meet regulatory requirements, offering natural vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherol) sourced from non-GMO vegetable oil. Available in various concentrations and forms for stability and versatility, Nutrabiol® E enhances food and supplement products with its superior biological activity.
This includes better absorption and longer retention in the body compared to synthetic vitamin E. With Nutrabiol® E, manufacturers can confidently label their products as a rich source of vitamin E, providing significant health benefits by contributing to cell protection from oxidative stress.
