Sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90% erythritol and reduction of dental plaque which reduces the risk of dental caries: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following an application from Cargill R&D Centre Europe, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Belgium, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90% erythritol and reduction of dental plaque which reduces the risk of caries. The food proposed by the applicant as the subject of the health claim, sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90% erythritol, is sufficiently characterised. In the context of this application, the weight of dental plaque, and/or the counts of Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque, and/or the concentration of organic acids in plaque (primarily acetic acid and lactic acid) can be considered as risk factor(s) in the development of dental caries, as long as evidence is provided that the consumption of the food that is the subject of the health claim reduces one or more of the proposed risk factors and the incidence of dental caries. One human intervention study did not show an effect of sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90% erythritol on the incidence of dental caries in children on either mixed or permanent dentition. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of sugar-free hard confectionery with at least 90% erythritol and reduction of dental plaque which reduces the risk of dental caries.