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Health Claim Regulation Of Probiotics In The Usa And The Eu: Is There A Middle Way?, Diane Hoffmann

Diane Hoffmann

In both the USA and Europe, supermarkets and pharmacies are brimming with probiotics—products containing live micro-organisms claiming they improve health. The availability of these products corresponds to a growing consumer demand for foods that improve or maintain health and wellness. The most persuasive include claims that consumption may confer health benefits. While some of these claims may have merit, others have not been substantiated. For a number of products, claims are based on insufficient research, underpowered studies, or mixed research results, yet individual consumers find that the product is of benefit to them. In attempting to regulate health claims, as …