Do you read food labels and wonder if “superfoods” really live up to the hype? When you see a health claim like “can reduce cholesterol” on food packaging, can you trust it?
In the EU, regulations ensure that all health claims made on labels, advertisements, or other marketing materials are backed by solid scientific evidence and are clear for consumers to understand, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
According to EFSA, as of 2025, there are 262 approved health claims in the EU.
More than 70% of health claim applications don’t make the cut due to lack of strong scientific evidence.
That means every approved claim you see on a label has gone through scientific review, which helps ensure more reliable information for consumers, according to EFSA.
As scientists at EFSA, we rigorously evaluate the scientific evidence behind health claims on food packaging, ensuring consumers can trust the information they rely for making informed choices.
Leng Heng, a nutrition expert at EFSA
What are health claims?
A health claim is any statement linking a food or ingredient to a specific health benefit. Examples include:
- “Reduces body weight”
- “Supports immune function”
- “Maintains normal muscle function”
Health claims are only approved after a rigorous scientific assessment by EFSA. To date, EFSA has evaluated over 2,300 health claim applications.
Nutrition claims vs. health claims
While health claims focus on the relationship between food and health, nutrition claims highlight the composition of the food itself. Examples of nutrition claims include:
- “Low fat”
- “No added sugar”
- “High in fibre”
Both types of claims are regulated to ensure they are backed by science and not misleading.
As of 2023:
- Over 260 health claims have been approved for use in the EU by the European Commission
- More than 70% of evaluated claims have been rejected due to a lack of scientific evidence.
- Some examples of approved claims relate to nutrients like vitamin D (bone health), omega-3 fatty acids (heart health), and fibre (digestive health).
Always remember that no single food or supplement can replace a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle!
21.05.2026.
SOURCE
Picture and source: EFSA https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/safe2eat/health-claims
