EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies), 2014. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to choline and “development of brain” pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Specialised Nutrition Europe (formerly IDACE), submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to choline and “development of brain”. The food constituent, choline, which is the subject of the health claim, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is “development of brain” and the target population is infants and young children from birth to three years of age. Taking into account that no evidence was provided for an effect of dietary choline deficiency in the normal development of the brain in infants and young children, the Panel considers that the claimed effect, “development of brain” for infants and young children from birth to three years in relation to dietary choline, is not sufficiently defined for a scientific evaluation. The Panel considers that the claimed effect is general and non-specific, and does not refer to any specific health claim as required by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.