Health Claims on Food Labels: What you need to know about health claims on food labels
Walk down any supermarket aisle and you’ll see them everywhere. “Supports normal immune function.” “Contributes to healthy bones.” “Helps maintain heart health.” These are health claims on food labels – and every single one is regulated under UK law.
Getting them wrong isn’t just a reputational risk. It’s a legal one.
This guide explains what health claims actually are, where the rules come from, and how to stay on the right side of the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims register. Whether you’re labelling a fortified drink, a vitamin supplement, or a functional food, this is what you need to know.
What Are Health Claims on Food Labels?
A health claim is any statement that suggests a food, ingredient, or nutrient has a positive effect on human health. Under UK retained law – specifically the GB equivalent of EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 – only claims listed on the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims (NHC) register are permitted.
There are currently 267 authorised health claims in Great Britain, alongside 30 permitted nutrition claims. If your claim isn’t on the list, you cannot use it. No exceptions.
Nutrition claims are slightly different. They describe the nutritional properties of a food – things like “low fat,” “high fibre,” or “source of protein.” These must also meet specific threshold conditions before they can appear on a label.
Great Britain Nutrition & Health Claims Register Search Tool
Search by nutrient, vitamin, mineral or ingredient – e.g. Vitamin D, calcium, omega-3, iron
This tool is provided for reference only. Always verify claim status and conditions of use against the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register and assimilated Regulation (EC) 1924/2006. Claims must only be used in accordance with their authorised conditions. Need compliant food labels? Call Positive ID Labels on 01332 864895.
A Brief History: From EU Law to the GB NHC Register
Before Brexit, food health claims UK-wide were governed by EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, enforced across all member states. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed applications and either authorised or rejected them based on scientific evidence.
When the UK left the EU, the regulations were retained in domestic law through the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. The full list of approved and rejected claims became the foundation of the GB NHC register, which has been maintained by the Department of Health and Social Care ever since.
The register was most recently updated on 27 February 2025 – adding two newly non-authorised claims for beta-glucan and creatine. It’s a living document, so staying up to date matters.
How Health Claims Are Categorised
The GB NHC register uses a classification system drawn directly from the original EU framework.
Article 13(1) claims are by far the most common. These are general health claims linking a nutrient to a normal body function – for example, “Vitamin C contributes to normal immune system function.” There are 229 authorised claims in this category.
Article 13(5) claims were originally approved on the basis of privately owned proprietary data, with a time-limited period of exclusive use for the applicant. All six proprietary claims on the Annex have now passed their restriction date, meaning any business can use them – provided the conditions of use are met.
Article 14 claims cover two specialist areas: disease risk reduction (14(1)(a), 14 authorised claims) and claims relating to children’s development and health (14(1)(b), 12 authorised claims). These are the most tightly controlled of all, and require even stricter compliance on wording and conditions.
Why So Many Claims Were Rejected?
Of the 2,554 entries on the health claims register, 2,081 are non-authorised. That’s a rejection rate of over 80%.
EFSA’s scientific assessments found that, in most cases, the evidence simply didn’t support the proposed claim. Many applications came from supplement manufacturers trying to make links between niche ingredients and health outcomes. The bar for proof is high – and rightly so.
This matters for food labels because it’s easy to accidentally use wording that maps to a rejected claim. Phrasing like “supports joint health” for glucosamine, or “improves memory” for DHA in the wrong context, can breach regulations even if you didn’t intend to make a formal health claim.
Conditions of Use: The Detail That Catches People Out
Even when a claim is authorised, it comes with strict conditions. These usually specify a minimum quantity of the nutrient that must be present in the food, and sometimes how it must be consumed.
Take Vitamin D. The claim “Vitamin D contributes to normal immune system function” is authorised – but only for foods that are at least a source of Vitamin D as defined by the nutrition claims rules. That means the food must contain at least 15% of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) per 100g/100ml, or per portion if a single portion is clearly stated on the label.
Miss that threshold, and the claim cannot appear – even if Vitamin D is genuinely present in the product. Check out the search tool for accurate guidance below.
What This Means for Your Labels
Labelling compliance is ultimately the food producer’s responsibility. But when your labels are being printed, getting the layout right matters just as much as the text itself.
At Positive ID Labels, we work with food manufacturers, supplement producers, and specialist retailers who need labels that are not just printed right, but built right. Our Xeikon press delivers 1200dpi print quality – ideal for the fine detail required in nutritional declarations, allergen callouts, and complex regulatory text. For high-volume runs on polypropylene or other food-grade plastics, our Screen UV inkjet combines 600dpi resolution with 50 metres per minute output to keep costs down without sacrificing clarity.
If you’re unsure about your label design or material specification, call 01332 864895 for free expert guidance. We’ll help you choose the right material, finish, and layout for your product.
FAQs: Health Claims on Food Labels
Can I use the phrase “boosts immunity” on a food label? No. “Boosts” implies enhancement beyond normal function, which is not permitted. Authorised wording must follow the exact phrasing on the GB NHC register – for example, “contributes to the normal function of the immune system.”
Do nutrition claims and health claims follow the same rules? They’re related but separate. Nutrition claims describe nutrient content (e.g. “high in fibre”). Health claims make a functional link to health. Both are regulated, but through different parts of the same framework.
Is the EU health claims register still valid in the UK? No. Since Brexit, England, Scotland, and Wales follow the GB NHC register. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules under the Windsor Framework.
What happens if I use a non-authorised health claim? Food Standards Agency enforcement can require label withdrawal, product recall, or prosecution. Trading Standards officers actively monitor labelling at point of sale and online.
How often is the GB NHC register updated? The register is updated as new claims are assessed. The most recent update was February 2025. Always check the official GOV.UK page before printing new label runs.
Do conditions of use appear on the label? Not always in full – but the label must meet the underlying conditions. For example, if a claim requires a food to be a “source of” a nutrient, that threshold must be met even if the condition text doesn’t appear on the pack.
Ready to Print? We’re Here to Help.
Getting your food health claims right starts with clear, accurate labelling – and that’s where Positive ID Labels comes in. We’ve been helping food producers, supplement brands, and specialist retailers get their labels right for over 20 years.
Want to see the quality before you commit? We offer free samples for approved enquiries. Call 01332 864895 or complete our enquiry form and we’ll come back to you fast.
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All food labelling guides are provided in good faith for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. For specific compliance questions about specific labelling laws, contact a specialist or contact your local Trading Standards authority. Read our Regulatory Information Disclaimer