1.1 Introduction to Mediterranean Diet and Polyphenols
3
European Polyphenols Market will increase markedly to 2022, in which green tea
flavonoids, red fruits anthocyanins, grapes polyphenols and olive polyphenols top
the list of market expansion (Food Navigator 2004). To better inform consumers
about the rational use of this functional food,
1 the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) has authorized two health claims for polyphenols: one of which applies to
olive oil (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies 2011; Issaoui and
Delgado 2019) and the second one refers to cocoa flavanols (EFSA Panel on Dietetic
Products, Nutrition and Allergies 2014). Some official health claim and organoleptic
properties of polyphenols olive oil and cocoa
2 are displayed in Fig. 1.1.
Added to that polyphenols may be useful against emerging allergies: the fight
against allergens is one of the most interesting concerns in the last years (Popping
et al. 2018). Juríková et al. (2015) have clarified and discussed their mechanism of
action in relation to allergic immune response and have investigated the antiallergic
Polyphenols in olive oil and cocoa: health claims and sensorial features in the EU
References:
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2011) EFSA J 9, 4:2033-2058. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2012) EFSA J 10, 7:2809-2830. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2809
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2014) EFSA J 12, 5:3654-3667. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3654
Nutrient, food or
food category
Olive oil
polyphenols
Cocoa flavanols
Possible claim
Olive oil polyphenols
contribute to the
protecon of blood
lipids from oxidave
stress
Cocoa flavanols help
to maintain the
elascity of blood
vessels, which
contributes to
normal blood flow
Condions for allowed claims
The claim can be used only for olive oils which
contain at least 5 mg and its derivaves (e.g.
oleuropein complex and tyrosol) per 20 g of olive
oil. In order to bear the claim informaon shall be
given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is
obtained with a daily intake of 20 g of olive oil
Informaon shall be given to the consumer tha he
beneficial effec s obtained with a daily intake of 200
mg of cocoa flavanols. The claim can be used only for
cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark
chocolate which provide at least a daily intake of 200
mg of cocoa flavanols with a degree of polymerisaon
1-10.
Also, the claim can be used only for capsules or tablets
containing high-flavanol cocoa extract which provide
at least a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols
with a degree of polymerisaon 1-10
Fig. 1.1 Official health claim and organoleptic properties of polyphenols olive oil and cocoa
(Drewnowski and Gomez-Carneros 2000; EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies
2011, 2012, 2014; IOC 2018). The authors thank Carmelo Parisi, currently a student at the Liceo
Scientifico Stanislao Cannizzaro, Palermo, Italy, for the realization of this figure
1 Based on the International Food Information Council (IFIC) ‘foods or dietary components that
may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition’ Bagchi (2008).
2 Cocoa is not a mediterranean food; Cocoa has been quite recently introduced to the area and mainly
in ultraprocessed forms.
3
European Polyphenols Market will increase markedly to 2022, in which green tea
flavonoids, red fruits anthocyanins, grapes polyphenols and olive polyphenols top
the list of market expansion (Food Navigator 2004). To better inform consumers
about the rational use of this functional food,
1 the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) has authorized two health claims for polyphenols: one of which applies to
olive oil (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies 2011; Issaoui and
Delgado 2019) and the second one refers to cocoa flavanols (EFSA Panel on Dietetic
Products, Nutrition and Allergies 2014). Some official health claim and organoleptic
properties of polyphenols olive oil and cocoa
2 are displayed in Fig. 1.1.
Added to that polyphenols may be useful against emerging allergies: the fight
against allergens is one of the most interesting concerns in the last years (Popping
et al. 2018). Juríková et al. (2015) have clarified and discussed their mechanism of
action in relation to allergic immune response and have investigated the antiallergic
Polyphenols in olive oil and cocoa: health claims and sensorial features in the EU
References:
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2011) EFSA J 9, 4:2033-2058. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2012) EFSA J 10, 7:2809-2830. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2809
EFSA Panel on DieteƟc Products, NutriƟon and Allergies (2014) EFSA J 12, 5:3654-3667. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3654
Nutrient, food or
food category
Olive oil
polyphenols
Cocoa flavanols
Possible claim
Olive oil polyphenols
contribute to the
protecon of blood
lipids from oxidave
stress
Cocoa flavanols help
to maintain the
elascity of blood
vessels, which
contributes to
normal blood flow
Condions for allowed claims
The claim can be used only for olive oils which
contain at least 5 mg and its derivaves (e.g.
oleuropein complex and tyrosol) per 20 g of olive
oil. In order to bear the claim informaon shall be
given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is
obtained with a daily intake of 20 g of olive oil
Informaon shall be given to the consumer tha he
beneficial effec s obtained with a daily intake of 200
mg of cocoa flavanols. The claim can be used only for
cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark
chocolate which provide at least a daily intake of 200
mg of cocoa flavanols with a degree of polymerisaon
1-10.
Also, the claim can be used only for capsules or tablets
containing high-flavanol cocoa extract which provide
at least a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols
with a degree of polymerisaon 1-10
Fig. 1.1 Official health claim and organoleptic properties of polyphenols olive oil and cocoa
(Drewnowski and Gomez-Carneros 2000; EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies
2011, 2012, 2014; IOC 2018). The authors thank Carmelo Parisi, currently a student at the Liceo
Scientifico Stanislao Cannizzaro, Palermo, Italy, for the realization of this figure
1 Based on the International Food Information Council (IFIC) ‘foods or dietary components that
may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition’ Bagchi (2008).
2 Cocoa is not a mediterranean food; Cocoa has been quite recently introduced to the area and mainly
in ultraprocessed forms.