Green kiwifruit the first fresh fruit to achieve a health claim by the EU Commission, following more than 15 years of Zespri-led research
Green kiwifruit has become the first fresh fruit ever to receive an authorised health claim from the European Commission, marking a breakthrough for kiwifruit marketer Zespri and the wider fresh produce industry.
The European Commission has officially approved the health claim that “consumption of green kiwifruit contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency” – based on a daily intake of two fresh green kiwifruit providing a minimum of 200g of flesh. This authorisation is among only three health claims approved by the European Commission in the last five years, following a rigorous evaluation process in which less than one out of eight claims submitted receive approval.
Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said the milestone was not only a first for Zespri but for the entire fresh produce industry.
“The EU Commission’s recognition of green kiwifruit’s role in digestive health reflects one of the ways we are helping people thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit,” he said. “The approval not only validates Zespri’s health and innovation programme, it also delivers tangible value to the industry and reflects the hard work of our green growers to produce nutritious, great-tasting kiwifruit.”
Zespri fully funded the application process and majority of the key research submitted in the scientific substantiation, committing over 15 years to documenting the benefits of green kiwifruit.
The approval follows the submission of a comprehensive scientific dossier in 2018 which included 18 human intervention studies, six of which ultimately were considered as a strong basis for proving the effect of green kiwifruit on intestinal function. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) delivered a positive scientific opinion in 2021, which has now culminated in the Commission’s formal authorisation.
With this new authorisation, Zespri will begin integrating the health claim into its European communications, reaffirming its commitment to helping consumers make informed choices about their health.
