EFSA Scientific Requirements Related to Lycopene as Antioxidant, Prevention of Oxidative Damage and Cardiovascular Health Claims

The European regulation of nutrition claims (Regulation (EC) 1924/2006) which prohibits a food to be promoted as having therapeutic or curative properties provides the following categories of statements: "nutrition" or "content"; "health claims", "statements disease risk reduction." This Regulation establishes rules aimed at harmonising nutrition and health claims at a European level for the first time. From now on, claims on food labelling, presentation and advertising must be clear, concise and based on evidence accepted by the whole scientific community. This Regulation applies to all nutrition and health claims including: commercial communications (labelling, presentation and promotional campaigns); trademarks and other brand names which may be construed as nutrition or health claims. It applies to claims relating to all types of food intended for final consumers, including foods intended for supply to restaurants, hospitals, canteens etc. In 2012 EFSA published the Regulation 432/2012 which includes all the health claims permitted to be used and excluding claims related to antioxidants in general and lycopene in particular. This Regulation should apply to all nutrition and health claims made in commercial communications, including generic advertising of food and promotional campaigns, such as those supported in whole or in part by public authorities. A varied and balanced diet is always a prerequisite for good health, although a single product could also have special relevance in the context of the total diet.