Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Warner (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 February 2006.

Functional Foods

Question: What assessment they have made of the potential for functional foods to replace naturally healthy foods in people’s diets; and whether replacement would create barriers to encouraging healthy diets and achieving five-a-day targets; and

Answer: The Government currently do not define functional foods, in law or otherwise, nor perceive a need to do so. There are specific and general rules on foods, including food supplements, and there is proposed legislation at European Union level on nutrition and health claims made on food and on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods.Government advice is that most people can obtain all the nutrients they need by eating a varied and balanced diet. The Food Standards Agency provides information on a balanced diet, including via its websites, to help people make healthier choices on an informed basis. The Government have not entered into any debate on the concept of ““functional food””, which is not used for legislative purposes in the United Kingdom or the EU, and are therefore unaware of any conflicts in definitions. We assess consumption of all foods in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey programme and use this assessment to inform nutrition policy, including healthy eating and the five-a-day campaign.

Secondary information