GI-blues for ingredients firms

The low-glycaemic index (GI) revolution could be over before it even begins unless the industry persuades decision makers in Brussels that the term ‘low-GI’ should be allowed on their packs, ingredients manufacturers have warned.

The latest version of the controversial nutrition and health claims proposal from the European Commission does allow manufacturers to make claims about hunger management - provided they are backed up by clinical data and go through a prior applications process for new health claims.

However, it does not permit references to the glycaemic index, which means a manufacturer could successfully apply to make claims about slow energy release, but would not be able to label products as low-GI.

One leading ingredients supplier said: “This could kill GI before it even starts building some momentum. It’s extremely frustrating. We don’t know what they are basing their opinions on and who is lobbying on this issue.”

The final text of the nutrition and health claims proposal, which will reflect a ‘common position’ between the European Parliament and the Council, will have its second reading in Parliament later this year. If there are no further amendments, it should be adopted in early 2006.

At this point, companies that have been referring to the glycaemic index on products since before January 2005 will be allowed to continue using the term for a further two years.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it was now up to the industry to persuade the Commission that the glycaemic index should have a place on the annex. A spokesman said: “All additions to the annex will have to be referred to the European Food Safety Authority for an opinion before going to Standing Committee for a decision.

“The more time applicants give themselves to bring these claims and to explain their meaning, as well as the justification for them, the better. It is important to involve the FSA early in this process for guidance and advice.”

He added: “Good technical arguments and support for other countries are likely to be required to achieve changes to the annex.”

Separately, a list of generic health claims that the UK would like to see on to the Commission’s ‘generally accepted’ list of claims must be compiled and sent to the Commission within a year of the proposal’s being adopted, he added.

This will contain claims that are already well established and will not need to go through the lengthy and controversial prior approvals process for registering new health claims.

It is likely to include claims already approved by the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative, he said. “JHCI have been through a process of verification, and most of the generic claims it has approved should meet the criteria laid out by the Commission. The exception to this will be disease risk reduction claims, which will be subject to specific application and authorisation.”

He added: “We will be writing to stakeholders shortly to begin the process of compiling the list.”