Probiotics Drinks And Yogurts Doesn't Aid Digestion Says EFSA

Yakult  has been recently  launched  in India  by  Danone  as healthy Probiotic  drink

Probiotic drinks and yogurts, popular with millions of consumers trying to eat healthily, do not aid people's digestion, a leading European food watchdog has ruled.

Products such as Yakult, which are sold at a premium over standard yogurts, cannot be proved to either boost the immune system or aid digestive health, it has been ruled.



The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has examined more than 800 health claims from food companies, including those submitted by the multi-billion pound probiotic industry.


EFSA's independent panel of scientists found that the claims that these products could strengthen the body's defences, improve immune function and reduce gut problems were either so general as to be inadmissible, or could not be shown to have the claimed effect.

In a separate ruling, the panel examined a dossier of 12 studies submitted by Yakult for its own strain of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus casei shirota. It found that all were inadequate to support the company's claim that its products maintained immune defences against the common cold.

EFSA's ruling is being challenged by the industry, but if these appeals fail the companies will no longer be allowed to market the foods as aiding digestion or helping the immune system in future.

Yakult in its most recent television advert states: "Yakult's billions of friendly bacteria help keep your gut healthy and a healthy gut helps make for better digestion and stronger natural defences."

Danone, the country's biggest manufacturer of probiotic drinks and yogurts, said none of its products were subject to yesterday's ruling as it had withdrawn its claims that Actimel and Activia boosted the immune system and aided digestive health. However, in its most recent advert, fronted by Martine McCutcheon, it said its yogurts were "good for your digestive health".



The company added in a statement: "EFSA has not yet completed its review of all probiotic products and Danone remains fully confident of the science backing its products."

Nearly 60 per cent of UK households regularly buy probiotic drinks, and over £200 million of them are sold every year in Britain.

Yakult, in a statement, said it was very disappointed with the ruling. It said: "The company wishes to discuss the evaluation process, scientific criteria and this outcome with EFSA.

"Taking into consideration the outcome of this assessment by EFSA, we will focus all our efforts on the preparation and submission of new health claim dossiers. With the benefit of further guidance, the company anticipates a positive EFSA opinion in due course."

source :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8074182/Probiotic-drinks-do-not-aid-health-Europe-says.html

FSSAI Issues Standards For Honey and Prohibition of Anti- Biotics

Press release from  Fssai

Recently some reports have been appeared in the newspapers regarding the permitted levels of antibiotics in honey. The following advisory is issued by Food Safety and Standards Authority to clarify the issues involved.

Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by honey bees from the nectar of blossoms or from secretions of plants.

When visually inspected, the honey shall be free from any foreign matter such as mould, dirt, scum, pieces of beeswax, the fragments of bees and other insects and from any other extraneous matter.

The colour of honey varies from light to dark brown.

            Standards for honey have been prescribed under Prevention Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules, 1955 as under.

(a) Specific gravity at 27OC                          Not less than 1.35

(b) Moisture                                                  Not more than 25 per cent by mass

(c) Total reducing sugars                              Not less than 65 per cent by mass

(c-i) for Carbia colossa and Honey dew      Not less than 60 per cent by mass

(d) Sucrose                                                    Not more than to 5.0 per cent by mass

(d-i) for Carbia colossa and Honey dew      Not more than 10 per cent by mass

(e) Fructose-glucose ratio                            Not less than 0.95

(f) Ash                                                          Not more than 0.5 percent by mass

(g) Acidity (Expressed as formic acid)        Not more than 0.2 per cent by mass

(h) Fiehe's test                                               Negative

(i) Hydroxy methyl furfural(HMF),        Not more than 80

        mg/kg                                         

If Fiehe's test is positive, and hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF) content is more than 80 milligram/kilogram, then fructose: glucose ratio should be 1.0 or more.

Rule 44 D provides for restriction on sale of Carbia Callosa and Honey dew. Carbia Collosa and Honey dew shall be sold only in sealed containers bearing AGMARK seal.

Rule 45 specifies that food resembling but not pure honey cannot be marked as honey. No person shall use the word „Honey‟ or any word, mark, illustration or device that suggests “Honey‟ on the label or any package of, or in any advertisement for, any food that resembles honey but is not pure honey.

Violation of the provisions of PFA Act/Rules attracts penal action.

            No pesticide residues or antibiotics are allowed in honey.

            The maximum limits of heavy metals in various foods are prescribed under PFA Rules, 1955. Rule 57 of PFA Rules prescribes the limits of contaminants under category “Foods not specified” (which includes honey) as follows:-

1. Lead                        Not more than 2.5 ppm

2. Copper                    Not more than 30.0 ppm

3. Arsenic                    Not more than 1.1 ppm

4. Tin                           Not more than 250.0 ppm

5. Zinc                         Not more than 50.0 ppm

6. Cadmium               Not more than 1.5 ppm

7. Mercury                  Not more than 1.0 ppm

8. Methyl Mercury    Not more than 0.25 ppm

Standards of Honey under AGMARK

The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has laid down standards of honey under the Grading and Marking Rules (AGMARK), which lays down the grades, designation of honey as Special, Grade–A and Standard to indicate the quality of honey for the purpose of certification. It specifies the method of packing, marking and labeling and conditions for grant of certificate for authorization. The standards of AGMARK are voluntary.

In the matter of admissibility of antibiotics in honey, safety standards in India are similar to those in European Union, Codex Alimentarius and USA where they are completely prohibited.

for more visit :  www.fssai.gov.in