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Monday, July 23, 2007

Spotlight: Functional foods and nutraceuticals

Official approvals boost sales

APPROVED health claims and product regulations have helped the functional foods and neutraceuticals industry.

In 2003, Health Canada authorized the use of five generic health claims which pertain to: sodium, potassium and hypertension; calcium, vitamin D and osteoporosis; saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and coronary heart disease; fruits and vegetables and some types of cancers; and sugar alcohols and dental caries.

The framework for the authorization of health claims for foods in Canada distinguishes between generic claims and product-specific claims. Generic health claims can be nutrition function claims or “disease risk-reduction” claims made on a general food type or nutrient.

Nearly half of all functional food firms stated that the ability to use the five generic health claims had a positive impact on domestic sales, while a similar amount of functional food firms stated that this ability was positive in developing new products. A small minority indicated no impact on domestic sales.

Export sales were little affected by generic health claims.

In 2004, Health Canada authorized the Natural Health Products Regulations (under the Food and Drug Act), which include provisions on: product licensing, site licensing, good manufacturing practices, adverse reaction reporting, clinical trials labelling, and provisions for a full range of health claims that will be supported by evidence. Products that fall within these regulations include herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, vitamins, minerals, traditional medicines, probiotics, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

The ability to make claims on nutraceuticals under the Natural Health Products Regulations was viewed as having more of positive effect on domestic sales and product development than on export sales, where the effects were minimal.

See also
A healthy industry THE DAILY -- New products