EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to a combination of lycopene, vitamin E, lutein and selenium and “ helps to prepare and activate tannin g ” pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Nutrilinks Sarl, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Cyprus, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to a combination of lycopene, vitamin E, lutein and selenium and “helps to prepare and activate tanning”.

The Panel considers that the combination of lycopene, vitamin E, lutein and selenium is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is “helps to prepare and activate tanning”. Tanning (i.e. increasing the pigmentation of the skin) may contribute to the protection of the skin against UV-induced damage.

The Panel considers that protection of the skin from UV-induced (including photo-oxidative) damage is a beneficial physiological effect. A claim on a combination of lycopene, vitamin E, lutein and selenium and protection of the skin from UV-induced (including photo-oxidative) damage has already been assessed by the Panel with an unfavourable outcome.

The reference provided by the applicant for the scientific substantiation of this claim was the same as in the previous submission. © European Food Safety Authority, 2012