EFSA OKs Digestive Health Claim For Prunes

PARMA, ItalyThe European Food Safety Authoritys (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) Panel issued a final ruling on June 11 approving a health claim that eating prunes is beneficial for digestive health.

The claim may be used only for food which provides a daily intake of 100 g of dried plums (prunes). In order to bear the claim, information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 100 g of dried plums (prunes).

The EFSA ruling comes as a result of six years of comprehensive study to demonstrate the beneficial effect of prunes on digestive health and brings together the total weight of evidence brought from a series of studies concerning gut function, as a result of incorporating prunes in the diet.

Commenting on the ruling, Mark Dorman, international marketing director of the California Prune Board, said: "This EFSA ruling has confirmed what people have known for centuries and should help people make a more informed choice about what they are eating and feeding their families. We have been working in the UK and Europe for the past 25 years, raising the profile of California Prunes as the healthy and nutritious commodity they arewe finally now have the EU health ruling which confirms that prunes offer a convenient way to maintain normal bowel function."