The health claim that calcium contributes to the normal development of bones may legally be used in the EU by makers of foodstuffs containing calcium. The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) considered in a scientific opinion published in the EFSA journal on Thursday 20 October that this health claim was scientifically substantiated.
The favourable scientific opinion was delivered following an application from Specialised Nutrition Europe (formerly called IDACE) under the European regulation on nutrition and health claims for foodstuffs (Regulation 1924/2006, Article 4 on claims relating to reduction of disease risk and development of child health).
The target population of the application from Specialised Nutrition Europe, which represents the interests of the specialised nutrition industry in Europe, was infants (from birth) and young children up to three years of age.
The scientists on the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) came to the conclusion that the role of calcium in the development of bones applies to all ages including the target age group and that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of calcium and contribution to the normal development of bones. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)