| Autor: |
Rodríguez-Hernández MD; Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain., Gil-Izquierdo Á; Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain., García CJ; Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain., Gabaldón JA; Molecular Recognition and Encapsulation Group (REM), Health Sciences Department, Universidad Católica de Murcia, Campus Los Jerónimos 135, 30107 Murcia, Spain., Ferreres F; Molecular Recognition and Encapsulation Group (REM), Health Sciences Department, Universidad Católica de Murcia, Campus Los Jerónimos 135, 30107 Murcia, Spain., Giménez-Monzó D; Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science Health, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain., Martínez-Sanz JM; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain. |
| Abstrakt: |
In Europe, sports food supplements (SSFs) are subject to specific laws and regulations. Up to 70% of athletes are highly influenced by the information on the label or the advertisement of the SSF, which often does not correspond to the scientific evidence, such as health claims. The aim is to analyze such claims relating to sports drinks (SDs) in commercial messages. To this end, an observational and cross-sectional study was conducted based on the analysis of the content and degree of adequacy of the health claims indicated on the labelling or technical data sheet of the SDs with those established by the European legislation in force according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The SSFs were searched for via Amazon and Google Shopping. A total of 114 health claims were evaluated. No claim fully conformed with the recommendations. A total of 14 claims (n = 13 products) almost conformed to the recommendations; they were "Maintain endurance level in exercises requiring prolonged endurance", "Improve water absorption during physical exercise", and "Improved physical performance during high intensity, high duration physical exercise in trained adults", representing 12.3% of the total (n = 114). The vast majority of the claims identified indicated an unproven cause-effect and should be modified or eliminated, which amounts to food fraud towards the consumer. |
