Open AccessScientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to a combination of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum M 20/5 and Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 and maintenance of upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens (ID 931, further assessment) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Author(s) -
Efsa Panel on Dietetic Products
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2718
Subject(s) - bifidobacterium bifidum , lactobacillus gasseri , bifidobacterium , bifidobacterium longum , probiotic , population , lactobacillus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bifidobacterium animalis , food science , medicine , bacteria , fermentation , environmental health , genetics
Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a health claim pursuant to Article 13.1 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 in the framework of further assessment related to a combination of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum M 20/5 and Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 and maintenance of upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens. The food constituent that is the subject of the claim, a combination of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum M 20/5 and Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3, is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect, maintenance of upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens, is a beneficial physiological effect. The proposed target population is the general adult population. The Panel notes that the only human intervention study provided did not show an effect of consumption of a combination of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum M 20/5 and Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 on defence against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract. On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of a combination of Lactobacillus gasseri PA 16/8, Bifidobacterium bifidum M 20/5 and Bifidobacterium longum SP 07/3 and maintenance of upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens.