Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to whole grain (ID 831, 832, 833, 1126, 1268, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1431) 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 related to whole grain. 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 constituents that are the subject of this opinion are “whole grain”, “whole grain flour”, “whole grain foods”, and “diets rich in whole grain”, related to the following claimed effects: “gut health”/“bowel function”, “weight control”, “blood glucose”/“insulin levels”, “weight management”, “blood cholesterol”, “satiety”, “glycaemic index”, “digestive function” and “cardiovascular health”. Whole grain foods (including whole grain flour) are defined differently across countries, also within the EU. In the UK and the USA whole grain foods must contain ≥51 % whole grain ingredients by wet weight, whereas in Sweden and Denmark the requirement is ≥50 % whole grain ingredients on a dry matter basis. In Germany, whole grain bread must be 90 % whole grain. The information in the consolidated list and the references provided do not allow the Panel to characterise the food constituent, whole grain, that is the subject of the health claims. The Panel considers that the food constituent, whole grain, which is the subject of this opinion is not sufficiently characterised in relation to the claimed effects considered in this opinion. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship cannot be established between the consumption of whole grain and the claimed effects considered in this opinion.