Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to sodium bicarbonate and reducing gastric acid levels (ID 1653) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to sodium bicarbonate and reducing gastric acid levels. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is sodium bicarbonate. The Panel considers that sodium bicarbonate is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect is “supporting an optimal pH environment in the stomach”. In the context of proposed wording, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to reducing gastric acid levels in the stomach. The Panel considers that the evidence provided does not establish that reducing gastric acid levels is a beneficial physiological effect for the general population. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of sodium bicarbonate and a beneficial physiological effect for the general population related to reducing gastric acid levels.