Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 and decreasing potentially pathogenic intestinal microorganisms (ID 992) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Hannu Korhonen, Pagona Lagiou, Martinus Løvik, Rosangela Marchelli, Ambroise Martin, Bevan Moseley, Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Stephan Strobel, Inge Tetens, Daniel Tomé, Hendrik van Loveren, and Hans Verhagen.
Acknowledgment
The Panel wishes to thank for the preparation of this opinion: The members of the Working Group on Claims: Carlo Agostoni, Jean-Louis Bresson, Susan Fairweather-Tait, Albert Flynn, Ines Golly, Marina Heinonen, Hannu Korhonen, Martinus Løvik, Ambroise Martin, Hildegard Przyrembel, Seppo Salminen, Yolanda Sanz, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Inge Tetens, Hendrik van Loveren and Hans Verhagen. The members of the Claims Sub-Working Group on Gut/Immune: Miguel Gueimonde, Martinus Løvik, Bevan Moseley, Seppo Salminen, Stephan Strobel, Hania Szajewska and Hendrik van Loveren.
Contact
nda@efsa.europa.eu
No abstract available
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 and decreasing potentially pathogenic intestinal microorganisms. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders.
The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685. The Panel considers that Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 is sufficiently characterised.
The claimed effect is “digestive health/intestinal flora”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. In the context of the proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the aspect of: “maintaining/restoring the balance of intestinal flora”. The Panel considers that “maintaining/restoring the balance of intestinal flora” in the context of decreasing potentially pathogenic intestinal microorganisms might be a beneficial physiological effect.
On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 and decreasing potentially pathogenic intestinal microorganisms.
Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685, intestinal flora, potentially pathogenic microorganisms, health claims
