| Popis: |
Diet has an important role in maintaining dental health, and there is a general need for more research to understand the impact of different foods and drinks on dental endpoints. An EU health claim has been authorised for a range of modified, non-alcoholic, fruit juice drinks branded as ‘Toothkind’. The claim relates to the maintenance of healthy teeth when these drinks are used, in the context of a balanced diet, as an alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices. Characteristics of the Toothkind drinks include set parameters for the molar ratio of calcium to acid, pH and fermentable carbohydrate content. The evidence used to substantiate the claim was based on comparisons of Toothkind drinks with soft drinks and fruit juices. The authorised wording of the claim is: ‘Replacing sugar-containing, acidic drinks such as soft drinks (typically 8–12 g sugars/100 mL), with reformulated drinks contributes to the maintenance of tooth mineralisation’. The claim was granted protection of proprietary data for 5 years, until September 2018. However, due to changing market conditions the Toothkind formula is no longer produced and the claim is not in use. Nevertheless, this claim illustrates the type and quality of scientific research that is needed to gain an authorised claim for an innovative product. |
