Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide and plaque acid neutralisation (ID 1153) 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 sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide and plaque acid neutralisation. 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 that is the subject of the health claim is sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide. A claim on sugar-free chewing gum and plaque acid neutralisation has already been assessed with a favourable outcome. From the proposed wordings, the Panel assumes that the claim refers to an effect of sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide on plaque acid neutralisation beyond the well established effect that other sugar-free chewing gums (i.e. without carbamide) have on plaque acid neutralisation. The Panel considers that sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide and the comparison food, sugar-free chewing gum without carbamide, are both sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effect. The claimed effect is “improved plaque acid neutralisation”. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The Panel considers that plaque acid neutralisation is a beneficial physiological effect. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the use of sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide after a sugar challenge consistently increased plaque pH compared to sugar-free chewing gums without carbamide, that the pH raising effect correlated positively with the urea content of the gum, and that the mechanism for the effect is well established. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the use of sugar-free chewing gum with carbamide and plaque acid neutralisation, over and above the effect achieved with sugar-free chewing gums without carbamide. The Panel considers that, in order to obtain the claimed effect, sugar-free chewing gum containing carbamide (at least 20 mg carbamide per piece) should be used for at least 20 minutes after eating or drinking. The target population is the general population. The use of chewing gum should be avoided in children less than three years of age because of a high choking hazard.