Column & News ¦ IDM
September/October 2022 ¦ international-dairy.com · 45
IPA Europe Executive Director Rosanna Pecere and
EDA Secretary General Alexander Anton
benefits linked to specific probiotics. The consequence is a misinterpretation
of the term ‘probiotic’, together with the lack of clear
and harmonized criteria to qualify a microorganism as ‘probiotic’.
EU member states: what is happening here?
As consequence of the lack of clarity on the use of the term ‘probiotic’
in Europe, some EU countries have in the meantime adopted
individual national guidelines or legislations. Italy, the Czech Republic
and Bulgaria have issued national guidelines indicating that
the wording “contains probiotics” can be used, if specific conditions
are fulfilled, as factual information. This was also the case of
Spain in 2021.
Other national guidelines have been developed in recent years,
and more European countries are flexible in allowing the use of
the term probiotic on label and communication of dairy based
products, food ingredients and food supplements. The reason
for this is to inform consumers and to create equal opportunities
for European manufacturers of probiotic foods and dietary supplements,
since an increasing variety of probiotics products are advertised
and sold online in the European Union and around the world.
Towards an EU harmonised criteria of ‘probiotic’
definition, communication and labelling
The results of a recent EU survey in 8 countries, commissioned
by IPA Europe, show that probiotics are popular, and that people
who do not use or buy probiotics also know the term. The survey
findings show that EU consumers have high familiarity with the
word ‘probiotic’, but feel they are not informed about the presence
in food and food supplements properly.
79% of the interviewed consumers would like to see the term
‘probiotic’ indicated on the product (e.g in the ingredients list or
on the packaging).
IPA Europe and EDA won’t stop requesting the European Commission
to consider a way forward that will comply with the EU
regulatory framework, providing a clear reference to the use of the
term ‘probiotic’ on labels and in communication, as a description
of a food and food supplements category.
“Regulators in other parts of the world recognise the benefits
of probiotics under certain conditions and authorise the use of this
word for a class of product and ingredients. We believe that a favourable
environment for probiotics in Europe will benefit EU citizens
and will contribute to cost savings at a societal level,” states
Rosanna Pecere, Executive Director of IPA Europe.
The clarification of the definition of the term ‘probiotic’ at
European level would enhance the competitiveness of European
companies, while providing clearer and more transparent information
to consumers.
More information is available here:
https://www.ipaeurope.org/legal-framework/market-data/w
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