Health Claim Project details
Formed in March 2016, the Tomato Foundation Health Claim Project Consortium is an inter-professional group of food industry, academia and research entities focused on compiling a successful application dossier for an EFSA health claim for tomato paste and reduced blood platelet aggregation - improving blood flow.
A dietary supplement, WSTC - an extract of tomato paste, which concentrates tomato phenols - was awarded an EFSA 13.5 New Function health claim in 2009.
Tomato phenols have a blood-thinning effect. These bioactive compounds are found in high concentrations in tomato paste and products like puree, passata, crushed, diced, sauces and juice.
So why does a supplement made from tomato paste have an EFSA health claim but not the tomato paste it’s made from?
The Health Claim Project has 3 distinct phases
- Phase 1: Feasibility study by NIZO Food Research. Completed in October 2016
- Phase 2: Tomato paste/tomato product sample study at SSICA, May 2018
- Phase 3: Human nutrition trials, prepare dossier to EFSA, 2019 - 2020
Confirmation of the chemical availability of the bioactives in normal consumer tomato products is needed for EFSA validation. The tomato paste and consumer product sample study will be carried out by the SSICA food research institute - in Parma, Italy.
All consumer products that are tested in the study - and pass for sufficient tomato content - will be awarded a licence of use for the health claim.
Only project consortium companies will be able to use this health claim for their products.
The Tomato Foundation invites collaboration, participation and support for the study.
For more information:
Tomato Foundation
David Sutherland
david@tomatofoundation.org
www.tomatofoundation.org