DuPont Achieves Probiotic Health Claim in Switzerland

3 June 2014 --- Nutrition and health expert DuPont has become the first ingredients company to receive a probiotic health claim in Europe. The company hopes that the approval, which was granted in Switzerland, will pave the way for other European nations to follow suit.

DuPont, which worked in close collaboration with a major Swiss Grocer, received approval from Switzerland’s federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) to market Danisco HOWARU Bifidobacterium HN019 probiotic as supporting digestion by reducing transit time.

“This is only the beginning,” Global Public Affairs Leader, Cathy Andriadis told FoodIngredientsFirst. “DuPont now has a positive claim within Switzerland, and we hope to soon have a broader positive claim within the EU. It is now, more than ever, important to partner with companies that can achieve regulatory approvals in key markets like the EU. DuPont Nutrition & Health is a global leader in probiotics and we continue to provide our customers with the broadest portfolio of food ingredients in the industry. We have established that position through strong, credible science and dedicated technology. We are confident that our studies will strengthen the scientific evidence supporting our DuPont Danisco range.”

Andriadis went on to explain that despite the regulatory challenges in Europe, “DuPont continues to deliver scientifically proven data on the efficacy of our probiotics”. She also noted that, “this approval validates the strong evidence we have on the link between digestive health and probiotics – support for an important milestone that we hope prompts other countries to follow suit. Digestive comfort is an important benefit for consumers globally, and this approval creates new opportunities for food, beverage and dietary supplement marketers to promote this benefit to consumers.”

DuPont has carefully studied EFSA’s position on health claims, according to Andriadis. The company has worked proactively to develop new science to support its claims. “At the same time, we have accelerated our studies in an effort to generate science that meets EFSA’s guidelines/criteria. The Swiss authority approval is a good signal on the quality of our dossier for Howaru Bifido HN019,” she said.

Probiotics are a fast growing business for DuPont globally, in food, beverages and dietary supplements driven by consumer demand for products with a proven, and tangible benefit. In addition to its HOWARU range of scientifically substantiated probiotics for both digestive and immune health (which includes the HOWARU Bifido HN019 strain and HOWARU Restore probiotic combination), DuPont offers Litesse (an extremely versatile and well tolerated soluble fiber) and Osmoaid (an osmotic laxative shown to provide gentle relief from occasional constipation), both of which offer documented benefits to improve digestive health in a way that consumers can feel.

DuPont has over 40 years of experience in probiotics, with research led by some the world’s leading scientists. More than 70 clinical studies have included DuPont probiotic strains. DuPont Nutrition & Health has more than 20 research and development facilities around the world.

by Sonya Hook