2017 Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 91-99
Health claims are an effective means of influencing food choices made by consumers. Foods with Health Claims (FHC) , which are defined according to food labeling standards specified by the Food Labeling Act, comprise three categories: Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) , Foods with Function Claims (FFC) , and Foods with Nutrient Function Claims (FNFC) . FOSHU, which are also defined according to the Health Promotion Law, are permitted to claim benefits for maintenance and promotion of health, but must obtain approval from the government in order to be offered for sale. FFC, which are a category that was newly established in 2015, can be labeled as having structure and function claims on the basis of scientific evidence, at the responsibility of the manufacturer. For these, it is necessary to submit scientific documentation to the government regarding their function and safety prior to sale. FNFC are a category of standardized foods that can carry nutrient function claims without submission of any notification to the government. In 2015, the estimated market for FOSHU was approximately 640 billion yen, and the combined market for FNFC and so-called health foods was estimated to be 1.5 trillion yen. Since these health claims must be properly understood by consumers, the most important issue is public awareness, and in this context such products play a significant role in the maintenance and promotion of public health.
