What are nutrition and health claims?

January 6, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), effective nutrition labeling is a key tool governments use to help consumers make healthier food choices and combat diet-related diseases. Understanding what are nutrition and health claims is crucial for navigating food packaging and making informed decisions about what you eat.

Quick Summary

This article defines and distinguishes between nutrition claims and health claims, explaining their purpose on food packaging. It outlines the specific criteria that must be met for each type of claim and provides examples to help consumers interpret them accurately. The guide aims to improve consumer understanding of food labels.

Key Points

Nutrition claims: Statements about a food's nutrient content, such as 'low fat' or 'high fibre'.
Health claims: Statements linking a food or nutrient to a health benefit, like 'calcium helps build strong bones'.
Scientific Evidence: Both claim types must be backed by scientific data, with health claims subject to more rigorous scrutiny and approval.
Check the Facts: A claim doesn't guarantee a product is healthy overall; always check the Nutrition Information Panel and ingredients list for a complete nutritional picture.
Regulation Matters: Regulatory bodies enforce strict rules to prevent misleading claims and ensure consumer protection.
Comparative Claims: These claims compare a product to a similar item, for instance, 'at least 25% less sugar'.
Informed Choices: Understanding these claims is key to making conscious dietary decisions and navigating food marketing effectively.

Demystifying Nutrition and Health Claims

Food packaging often features statements like 'low fat' or 'rich in fibre', which are examples of nutrition and health claims. Understanding the difference between these claims is vital for making informed dietary choices. Regulatory bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate these claims to ensure they are scientifically sound.

What are Nutrition Claims?

Nutrition claims indicate that a food has specific beneficial nutritional properties due to its composition, often related to its energy value, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, or minerals. These claims can be:

Nutrient Content Claims: These describe the amount of a nutrient, such as 'high in fibre' which requires a minimum amount per serving, or 'low in fat' and 'sugar-free'.
Comparative Claims: These compare nutrient levels between similar foods, such as '25% less sugar than our standard version'.

What are Health Claims?

Health claims suggest a link between a food or its components and a health benefit, requiring scientific evidence and strict regulation. Regulatory bodies categorize these claims:

General Level Health Claims: These link a food component to a normal body function, like 'calcium for healthy bones and teeth'.
High-Level Health Claims (or Reduction of Disease Risk Claims): These connect a food component to reducing the risk of a serious disease, such as 'Diets high in calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in people 65 years and over'. These often require pre-approval.

The Key Differences Between Nutrition and Health Claims


Feature	Nutrition Claim	Health Claim
Focus	Content of a nutrient or substance (e.g., 'low fat').	Relationship between a nutrient/food and a health effect (e.g., 'calcium builds strong bones').
Level of Detail	Quantitative and compositional (how much of a nutrient is present).	Relational and functional (what the nutrient does for your health).
Regulatory Rigor	Requires the product to meet specific threshold criteria for nutrient levels.	Requires substantiation with scientific evidence, often needing pre-approval from regulators.
Implicit Message	This food has a specific nutrient profile.	This food, in the context of a healthy diet, can offer a specific health benefit.
Example	'High in Vitamin C'	'Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.'

The Consumer's Role: Reading Beyond the Claim

Claims alone don't define a food's healthiness. A 'fat-free' product might be high in sugar or sodium. Consumers should also check the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP), ingredients list, and compare products using standardized metrics like 'per 100g'. Guidance from bodies like the FDA can help interpret serving sizes and daily values.

The Importance of Regulation

Regulation of these claims is vital for consumer protection, preventing misleading statements and ensuring claims are scientifically accurate. This promotes public health and fair competition. Products with health claims often must also mention the importance of a varied diet.

Conclusion

Understanding what are nutrition and health claims is a valuable consumer skill. Nutrition claims describe food composition, while health claims link food to health benefits. Both are regulated for accuracy. However, claims should not be the only factor in purchasing decisions. By also reviewing the Nutrition Information Panel, ingredients list, and comparative values, consumers can make informed choices about their diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

A nutrient content claim is a statement that describes the level of a nutrient in a food, such as 'low fat', 'high fibre', or 'source of calcium'. These claims have specific, regulated criteria that must be met.

A nutrient claim is about the amount of a nutrient in a food, while a health claim describes a relationship between a food or nutrient and a health benefit. For example, 'high in calcium' is a nutrient claim, whereas 'calcium builds strong bones' is a health claim.

Legitimate health claims are based on scientific evidence and are regulated by national food authorities like the FDA or EFSA. For risk reduction claims, they are often pre-approved and must include a statement about a varied diet.

Yes, a 'fat-free' product can still be unhealthy, as manufacturers may add high amounts of sugar or sodium to improve taste. It is crucial to check the full Nutrition Information Panel and ingredients list.

High-level health claims refer to a relationship between a food or substance and a serious disease or a biomarker of that disease, like 'Diets high in calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis'. These require stringent scientific approval.

No, a health claim focuses on a specific benefit and does not necessarily account for the overall nutritional quality. A food can be 'rich in vitamin C' but still be high in sugar, so checking the full nutrition information is essential.

Reliable information can be found by reading the Nutrition Facts panel, the ingredients list, and checking information from official sources like the FDA or WHO. The 'per 100g' column is particularly useful for comparing products.