Recently, a well -known fruit of our plates has marked the history of food in Europe. After more than a decade of scientific research and a particularly strict regulatory examination, it has become the first fresh product to be awarded an official health allegation by the European Commission. An unprecedented recognition that could well change the way we look at what we eat on a daily basis.
A single fruit recognized for its digestive benefits
Since July 30, the green kiwi has entered the history of food. The European Commission validated the allegation according to which “The consumption of green kiwis contributes to the normal intestinal function by increasing the frequency of the stool“This recognition applies to a daily consumption of two fresh green kiwis (200 g of flesh).
This green light is all the more remarkable since it is one of the only three health allegations approved by Brussels in the past five years. Less than one in eight requests subject to the Commission obtains validation.
Fifteen years of research to convince
At the origin of this breakthrough, Zespri, the New Zealand giant of Kiwi. The company has funded all of the procedure and initiated more than 15 years of research. In 2018, she submitted a scientific file including 18 human intervention studies, six of which were retained as solid evidence of the effect of Kiwi on intestinal function. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave a favorable opinion in 2021, paving the way for official approval.
For Jason Te Brake, CEO of Zespri, “This advance is a first not only for Zespri but also for the entire fresh products sector“. He adds:”The recognition by the European Commission of the role of green kiwi in digestive health illustrates one of the ways we help people to flourish thanks to the benefits of Kiwi. This approval validates not only the health and innovation program of Zespri, but also brings a tangible value to the sector and testifies to the hard work of our green producers to produce nutritious and tasty kiwis“.
A step forward for the fresh products sector
For the fresh products industry, this is a turning point: never before a fruit or a vegetable had obtained such an official label. By becoming the first fresh product to benefit from a health allegation, the green Kiwi opens the way to a new era where food naturally rich in nutrients can be valued scientifically with consumers.