EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to “hypo-caloric snacks (KOT products)” and “contributes to reduce adipocyte size at the abdominal level in the context of a low-calorie diet” pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Ceprodi KOT, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to “hypo-caloric snacks (KOT products)” and “contributes to reduce adipocyte size at the abdominal level in the context of a low-calorie diet”.

The target population is overweight individuals who wish to reduce their abdominal fat. The applicant states that adipocyte size at the (subcutaneous) abdominal level correlates with abdominal fat mass, which is associated with metabolic complications. The evidence provided by the applicant does not establish that reducing subcutaneous adipocyte size at the abdominal level per se (i.e. independent of changes in body weight or body fat) would generally have an impact on the metabolic profile, or that changes in subcutaneous adipocyte size can be used as a surrogate measure of changes in visceral adipose tissue which could influence the metabolic profile.

Therefore, the Panel considers that the evidence provided does not establish that reducing subcutaneous adipocyte size at the abdominal level is a beneficial physiological effect per se and concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of “hypo-caloric snacks (KOT products) for use in low-calorie diets for weight reduction” and a beneficial physiological effect related to “reducing subcutaneous adipocyte size at the abdominal level”. © European Food Safety Authority, 2011