Promises and Problems of Functional Foods
Authors: MARTIJN KATAN1; NICOLE ROOS2
Source: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Volume 44, Number 5, September-October 2004 , pp. 369-377(9)
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd
Abstract:
Functionalfoods are branded foods, which claim, explicitly or implicitly, to improve health or well being. We review typical functional foods and their ingredients, efficacy, and safety. We also review regulations for health claims for foods worldwide. These regulations often allow manufacturers to imply that a food promotes health without providing proper scientific evidence. At the same time, regulations may ban claims that a food prevents disease, even when it does. We offer a plea for regulations that will permit all health claims that are supported by the totality of scientific evidence, and ban all claims that suggest an unproven benefit.Keywords: functional foods; health claims; regulation; supplements; Nutraceuticals
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/10408690490509609
Affiliations: 1: Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands 2: University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Click here for Page Help