Probiotic bacteria: legislative framework-- requirements to evidence basis

Abstract

Following on from the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation and Working Group outputs on probiotics and their presentation to Codex, it is hoped that these will be used as a science-based risk assessment process for managerial decision on probiotics and that the "Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food" will be used as a model for scientific criteria for evaluation of health claims. It is also hoped that this work will be incorporated or taken as example for the Codex draft being prepared on health and nutrition claims and as a scientific assessment of a novel food and that the probiotic guidelines will be adopted by Industry.