Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will change Government guidance to allow use of the term probiotic on food labels of products that contain probiotic microorganisms subject to agreed criteria.

Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 governs the use of nutrition and health claims on foods protecting consumers by ensuring any health claims made are backed by substantiated scientific evidence. Under the Regulation, the term ‘probiotic’ is not currently permitted, as this implies it has a relationship to a function of the body. Such claims are required to be evaluated by the UK Nutrition and Health Claims Committee and authorised by the appropriate authority, prior to their use.

Applications for the use of health claims can be made to the Department and subject to a positive scientific assessment and risk management decision, authorised as permitted for use. If a successful claim is made, the nutrition and health claims guidance will then be amended.