Superfoods are meeting the growing interest of European consumers. Under the illusion, fomented by marketing, that occasional consumption of a single product can compensate for the harms of unbalanced diets.
BfR, the German Institute for Risk Analysis, devotes its annual survey (of 1,000 people) to this phenomenon. Highlighting that some local foods are as ‘super-healthy’ as exotic ones. And that the latter, in some cases, may instead present potential health risks. Mycotoxins and pesticides, primarily.
Superfood, Health Claims, Novel Food
Nutraceutical foods-and so superfoods-are in fact without a legal definition. Any reference, even generic, to the nutritional and health properties of foods is therefore regulated in the European Union by the Nutrition & Health Claims Regulation (NHC, reg. EC 1924/06).
Some foods designated as superfoods, among others, are subject to the Novel Food regulations (reg. EU 2283/2015). Which requires authorization by the European Commission in agreement with member states-following scientific evaluation by theEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA)-to place on the market foods with no EU consumer experience prior to 1997. As has happened with chia seeds and hopefully will happen with other superfoods, such as insects and microalgae.
Superfood, the BfR survey.
The popularity of the superfood concept in the Old Continent is shown by the July 2020 survey conducted by BfR(Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung). In fact, 70 percent of respondents have direct knowledge of this ‘food category,’ or at least have heard of it. There are essentially two properties associated with it:
– health benefits (37 percent),
– High vitamin contents (17 percent).
Products identified as superfoods are mainly of exotic origin. In order are chia seeds (70 percent of respondents), goji berries (65 percent), quinoa (57 percent), and flax seeds (53 percent). Paradoxically, however, German consumers do not consider the obvious superfood nature of foods peculiar to their own culture, such as:
– blackcurrants, rich in vitamins and polyphenols, to which 46 percent of respondents attribute no role for health. Of favorable opinion only 42%,
– oats, rich in protein and probiotic fibers including beta-glucans, which EFSA itself acknowledges play a role in reducing blood cholesterol (47% vs. 41%).
Superfoods, consumption
One-third of BfR respondents (33%) say they consume superfoods at least once a week to ensure a healthy diet. A slightly lower proportion (31%) justifies its consumption by its pleasant taste.
Overall, 23% of the sample believes that these foods offer health benefits. In order, these benefits are associated with:
– High vitamin content (19%),
– General health benefits (15%),
– Strengthening the immune system (11 percent).
Superfoods at the table
However, the superfoods consumed recently by the BfR survey participants are different from those above. Topping the list is avocado (42 percent), an exotic fruit that is now widespread and produced, among other things, in Italy.
They follow in no particular order between exoticism and local traditions:
– chia seeds (23%)
– quinoa and flaxseed (12 percent),
– oats (9%),
– goji berries (6%)
– currants, dried fruit, blueberries (4%),
– Other types of seeds (3%).
Superfoods, better exotic or local?
Virtus stat in medium
. The ancient adage also confirms its relevance in BfR’s report. Where we emphasize that a varied and balanced diet–free of ultra-processed foods, we add–remains the choice to be favored to maintain good health.
Local foods, moreover, have little or nothing to envy those arriving from distant countries. Black currants, for example, are a local food that contain high amounts of vitamin C, just like goji berries (almost always of Chinese origin). And local flaxseeds-like hemp, remember-are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, without the need for chia.
Superfoods, the wary
In contrast, some consumers among the Germans surveyed say they do not take so-called superfoods. For simple disinterest (13%), lack of confidence (11%) or matters of taste (1%).
The fear that exotic superfoods may present possible health risks is all in all rare. Only 3% firmly believe it, another 5% consider its verisimilitude. With various reasons, mostly referring (13%) to questionable ingredients.
Superfoods, health risks in the RASFF
The Rapid Alert System on Food and Feed(RASFF) reveals recurrence of health risks on two imported superfoods, chia seeds and goji berries. Mostly due to contaminants and pesticide residues often banned in Europe. Some alert notifications in the EU then concern contamination with allergens not declared on the label.
Chia seeds, dangerous mycotoxins
Chia seeds from outside the EU have been the subject of several alert notifications in recent years for the presence of carcinogenic and genotoxic mycotoxins. Such as aflatoxin B1, one of the most dangerous, even at very high levels:
– in November 2019, the Netherlands made three notifications on chia seeds of Paraguay origin with aflatoxin B1 at very high levels (32.6 ppb or µg/kg),
– in July 2019, also the Netherlands reported aflatoxins (3.3 ppb the B1, 7.4 the total) on chia seeds of Ugandan origin, arriving from Germany,
– in November 2018, Germany in turn reported deadly aflatoxin levels (70.4 ppb the B1, 79.3 the total) on organic chia seeds arriving from Austria with raw material from Germany itself.
Two other reports included:
– salmonella in a shipment from Bolivia, reported on 9.3.20 from Romania,
– undeclared allergens (sesame) on a batch reported from Sweden, in March 2019, also distributed in Finland.
Goji berries and banned pesticides
Goji berries reported in the Rasff always come from China. The problem is high pesticide residues, which are almost always banned in Europe. The problem can be attributed to the ‘price drug,’ that is, the stubbornness to expect to pay as little as possible for fruits whose cultivation, growing and harvesting require much care.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
