Ministry memorandum letter on improper use of terms and acronyms on food supplement labels
Following some reports, the Ministry of Health has published a memorandum letter to clarify the use of terms and acronyms on food supplement labels.
A review has in fact pointed out that forbidden information is reported on the labels of some food supplements, that could cause confusion in the consumers about the appropriate classification of the products.
In particular, the acronyms “IBS” (Irritable Bowel System) and “HDL” (Hight Density Lipoprotein), that have a clear medical meaning, have been used, but the competent unit of the Ministry of Health considers them as not appropriate for a food supplement. These acronyms represent in fact a actual indication of the effects of the product and are not supported by suitable claims approved according to Regulation (EC) 1924/2006.
For other supplements containing botanicals, the Ministry found a wide use of terms such as ‘cough’, which are also forbidden as not reported in the Ministry guidelines on the physiological effects allowed for these ingredients.
The Ministry has acknowledged that the use of terms such as ‘cough’, though not necessarily expressing a pathological conditions, is not acceptable as they attribute to the products very specific characteristics that do not reflect the information reported in the reference guidelines.
Therefore, it is not allowed to report ‘medical’-like terms on food supplement labels, if not provided for by the authorised claims on health or on the reduction of a risk factor of the disease.
For food supplement containing botanicals it is necessary to stick to the relevant ministry guidelines in order to provide the consumers with general and useful information for an informed choice.
It is more and more necessary then to carry out a careful review of food supplement labels in order to market products complying with the European regulations and the Italian law.
Di Renzo Regulatory Affairs is always updated on this topic and is able to assist its clients, thanks to its experience and professionality.
