Following an application from Nutrilinks Sarl, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Vitis vinifera L. seeds extract and “helps to drain the body in case of water accumulation”. The Panel considers that the food constituent which is the subject of the health claim is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is “helps to drain the body in case of water accumulation”. Upon EFSA’s request for clarification on the specific physiological function that is the subject of the health claim, together with the outcome measures which could be used for the scientific evaluation of that function, the applicant indicated that “increase of body drainage” was a beneficial physiological effect in the context of “a normal venous circulation in the legs”. The applicant acknowledged that this claim referred to the same physiological function of the body as another health claim application on Vitis vinifera L. seeds extract and maintenance of normal venous blood flow. The Panel considers that maintenance of normal venous blood flow is a beneficial physiological effect. A claim on Vitis vinifera L. seeds extract and maintenance of normal venous blood flow has already been assessed by the Panel with an unfavourable outcome. The reference provided by the applicant for the scientific substantiation of this claim was already considered in the previous submission.
© European Food Safety Authority, 2012