B2B EXPORTEU & GLOBAL MARKETS
Authorised health claim
Prunes and normal bowel function.
The European Union placed this health claim on its authorised list following EFSA scientific assessment. It has a prescribed wording and condition of use, and both must be respected.
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Direct answer
Do prunes help digestion?
The European Union authorises the claim: “Dried plums/prunes contribute to normal bowel function.” It may be used only for food that provides a daily intake of 100 grams of prunes, together with information that the beneficial effect is obtained at that amount. Fruit count is not part of the authorised claim and varies with fruit mass.
Decision data
How the claim may be used
An authorised claim is not a general licence to present the product as a medicine. The wording is prescribed, the condition of use must accompany the claim, and statements about curing constipation or any disease remain prohibited.
| Item | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Claim status | Authorised in the EU | Regulation (EU) 432/2012; EFSA opinion, 2012 |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 432/2012 | List of permitted health claims |
| Wording | Contribute to normal bowel function | Must not become a claim of treatment |
| Condition of use | 100 g per day | Must be stated alongside the claim |
| Number of fruits | Not prescribed | Depends on mass and calibre |
Direct answer
Does the authorised claim mean prunes treat constipation?
No. The authorised wording refers only to a contribution to normal bowel function and is tied to a daily intake of 100 grams. It does not permit food to be presented as a medicine, a replacement for treatment or a way to treat disease. Those statements should not be used on the page, label or in advertising.
Reference values
What the claim does not cover
The authorisation applies solely to maintaining normal bowel function in a healthy population. Anything beyond that requires a separate authorisation, which does not exist for prunes.
| Statement | Status |
|---|---|
| Contribute to normal bowel function | Authorised, conditional on 100 g per day |
| Cure constipation | Prohibited — presenting food as medicine |
| Replace treatment | Prohibited |
| Act on bowel disease | Not authorised |
| Guidance for children and pregnancy | Not covered by this claim |
Source checked on 6 September 2026: consolidated Regulation (EU) 432/2012, list of permitted health claims. Scientific basis: EFSA Journal 2012;10(6):2712. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 432/2012