EU plans strict probes for health claims
The European Union has announced plans to crack down on foods that advertise health benefits without scientific backing. The EU has decided claims must be based primarily on human clinical trials. Animal studies can be used, with a few exceptions, only as supporting evidence. Moreover, the evidence must in most cases be "convincing," not merely plausible. The EU's rules are the strictest in the world, industry experts say, and may affect food giants such as Danone and Nestlé, as well as hundreds of smaller manufacturers.