Health Claims

What are Health Claims?

Health claims are statements on food labels or in food advertising that suggest a relationship between a food or a component of a food and a health condition or function of the body. In Australia and New Zealand, health claims are regulated under FSANZ Standard 1.2.7 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Health claims are distinct from nutrition content claims (which simply describe a nutrient level, such as "low sodium") and general level health claims (which make a functional connection between a nutrient and health). Both types are regulated under Standard 1.2.7 but with different requirements.

Types of Claims Under Standard 1.2.7

Nutrition content claims

A nutrition content claim describes the level of a nutrient in a food — for example, "low fat", "high fibre", "source of calcium", "no added sugar". These claims are regulated by Standard 1.2.7 and can only be made when the food meets specific eligibility criteria defined in Schedule 4 of Standard 1.2.7.

For example, a "low fat" claim can only be made when the food contains 3 g of fat or less per 100 g (for solids) or 1.5 g per 100 mL (for liquids). A "high fibre" claim requires at least 6 g of dietary fibre per serving.

General level health claims

A general level health claim links a food or food component to a health benefit that is related to a function of the body — for example, "Calcium is good for strong bones" or "Dietary fibre contributes to healthy bowel function". These claims can be made without prior FSANZ approval, provided:

1. The food meets the nutrient profiling score (NPS) threshold under Standard 1.2.7 — that is, it is not a food that is high in unhealthy nutrients.
2. The claim is substantiated — there is a scientific basis for the relationship being claimed.
3. The claim relates to a pre-approved relationship listed in Schedule 4.

High level health claims

A high level health claim refers to a serious disease or condition — for example, "Diets rich in folic acid may reduce the risk of neural tube defects" or "Calcium and reduced risk of osteoporosis". These claims can only be made after pre-approval by FSANZ, are subject to strict conditions, and must refer to a specific approved claim wording listed in Schedule 2 of Standard 1.2.7.

The Nutrient Profiling Score

One of the most important aspects of Standard 1.2.7 is the nutrient profiling scoring criterion (NPSC). Before making most health claims, a food must achieve a satisfactory NPSC score — broadly, it must not be a food that is excessively high in unhealthy nutrients (energy, saturated fat, sodium, sugar) relative to the beneficial nutrients it contains. Many processed foods fail the NPSC, meaning they are ineligible for health claims regardless of any positive nutrient they contain.

Common Mistakes

Making a content claim without meeting the Schedule 4 threshold. Stating "source of fibre" when the product contains only 1.5 g of dietary fibre per serve (the threshold is 2 g per serve for a "source of" claim) is a non-compliant claim.

Making a health claim on a food that fails the NPSC. High-sodium or high-sugar products are not eligible for health claims, even if they contain a beneficial nutrient like calcium.

Using implied health claims unintentionally. A product called "Heart Health Mix" may be making an implied health claim without the manufacturer realising it. Any name, logo, or image that suggests a health benefit can constitute a claim.

How Batchbase Supports Health Claim Compliance

Batchbase calculates the nutritional profile of your product from your recipe. By comparing the per-serve and per-100g values against Schedule 4 thresholds, you can check whether your product meets the eligibility criteria for a nutrition content claim before it appears on the label. The NIP calculation also gives you the data needed to assess the NPSC.

Related Standards and References

• FSANZ Standard 1.2.7 — Nutrition, health and related claims
• Schedule 2, Standard 1.2.7 — Pre-approved high level health claims
• Schedule 4, Standard 1.2.7 — Conditions for nutrition content claims and general level health claims
• FSANZ food standards code