Sara Stanner

Conflicts of Interest D.M.: Has provided independent advice and provided consultancy to the International Sweetener Association, Danone, World Sugar Research Organisation and Mars. P.M.: Has provided consultancy for the British Soft Drinks Association. A.S. and S.S. are employed at the British Nutrition Foundation.

The foods and beverages that people consume have a profound impact on their health. Unhealthy diets are a major contributor to the global burden of disease (GBD, 2017). Worldwide, 39% of adults are underweight or obese, 31% are affected by hypertension and 69% of women of reproductive age are affected by one or more micronutrient deficiencies (GBD, 2017).

INTRODUCTION Claims about the nutritional and health benefits of foods and drinks crop up everywhere. But are all claims authorised, thereby based on robust scientific evidence, and compliant with legislation? For example, such claims cannot be associated with alcoholic drinks.1 And what regulatory processes exist to protect the public?