Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to carbohydrates that induce low/reduced glycaemic responses (ID 474, 475, 483, 484) and carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index (ID 480, 481, 482, 1300) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

EFSA Journal 2010; 8(2):1491 [15 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1491
  EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies Panel Members 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 Weight Management/ Satiety/Glucose and Insulin Control/Physical Performance: Kees de Graaf, Joanne Harrold, Mette Hansen, Mette Kristensen, Anders Sjödin and Inge Tetens. Contact nda@efsa.europa.eu
Type: Opinion of the Scientific Committee/Scientific Panel On request from: European Commission Question number: EFSA-Q-2008-1261 , EFSA-Q-2008-1262 , EFSA-Q-2008-1267 , EFSA-Q-2008-1268 , EFSA-Q-2008-1269 , EFSA-Q-2008-1270 , EFSA-Q-2008-1271 , EFSA-Q-2008-2038 Adopted: 15 October 2009 Published: 25 February 2010 Affiliation: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
Abstract

No abstract available

Summary

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 carbohydrates that induce low/reduced glycaemic responses and carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index. 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 constituents that are the subject of the health claim are carbohydrates that induce a low/reduced glycaemic response and carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index (e.g. <55). The Panel considers that carbohydrates that induce a low/reduced glycaemic response and carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index (e.g. <55) are not sufficiently characterised.

On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of carbohydrates that induce a low/reduced glycaemic response or carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index and the claimed effects.

Keywords

Carbohydrates, low glycaemic index, insulin response, blood glucose, lipids, satiety, health claims