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The killing of poultry for human consumption (slaughtering) can take place in a slaughterhouse or during on-farm slaughter. The processes of slaughtering that were assessed, from the arrival of birds in containers until their death, were grouped into three main phases: pre-stunning (including arrival, unloading of containers from the truck, lairage, handling/removing of birds from containers); stunning (including restraint); and bleeding (including bleeding following stunning and bleeding during slaughter without stunning). Stunning methods were grouped into three categories: electrical, controlled modified atmosphere and mechanical. In total, 35 hazards were identified and characterised, most of them related to stunning and bleeding. Staff were identified as the origin of 29 hazards, and 28 hazards were attributed to the lack of appropriate skill sets needed to perform tasks or to fatigue. Corrective and preventive measures were assessed: measures to correct hazards were identified for 11 hazards, with management shown to have a crucial role in prevention. Ten welfare consequences, the birds can be exposed to during slaughter, were identified: consciousness, heat stress, cold stress, prolonged thirst, prolonged hunger, restriction of movements, pain, fear, distress and respiratory distress. Welfare consequences and relevant animal-based measures were described. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal-based measures, origins, and preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences were also proposed. (C) 2019 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority. Non

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on a mixture of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is obtained from corncobs (Zea mays subsp. mays) via enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis and subsequent purification. The main components of the NF, the oligosaccharides, are resistant to human digestive enzymes and are fermented by colonic bacteria. The intention is to add the NF to a variety of foods such as bakery and dairy products, fruit jelly, chocolates and soy-drinks. The information provided on composition, specifications, production process and stability of the NF, does not raise safety concerns. There were effects observed in the animal studies with the NF or with other XOS which were considered by the Panel to be expected from the intake of non-digestible carbohydrates. The Panel notes that the acute and transient gastrointestinal observed in human intervention studies with the NF or with other XOS have also been associated with the consumption of other non-digestible carbohydrates. The Panel concludes that the NF, a mixture of XOS, is safe under the proposed uses and use levels. The target population is the general population. (C) 2018 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on D-ribose as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The applicant intends to market the NF as ingredient in a variety of foods, food supplements and in certain foods for specific groups. The NF is produced by fermentation using a transketolase-deficient strain of Bacillus subtilis and marketed as Bioenergy Ribose (TM). The information provided on the batch-to-batch variability, specifications, stability, production process and history of the organism used as a source of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The Panel considers that the effects observed in a subchronic toxicity study in rats could be the consequence of nutritional imbalances, but toxicological effects could not be ruled out; from this study, the Panel derived a No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 3.6 g/kg body weight (bw) per day. From the human studies indicating a potential decrease in glucose levels and/or the occurrence of transient symptomatic hypoglycaemia at intakes of 10 g of D-ribose, the Panel defined 70 mg/kg bw per day as the NOAEL with respect to hypoglycaemia that can be considered applicable for adults. For children, the Panel acknowledges the lack of human data directly relevant for this population group. Based on the NOAEL derived from the subchronic toxicity study in rats, an acceptable level of intake of 36 mg/kg bw per day was defined that would also take into account the potentially increased sensitivity of certain population groups to hypoglycaemia. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe for the general population at intake levels up to 36 mg/kg bw per day and considers that the safety of the NF at the intended uses and use levels as proposed by the applicant has not been established. (C) 2018 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Following an application from Loc Troi group, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of the Netherlands, the EFSA Panelon Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Vibigaba (germinated brown rice) and reduction of body weight in the context of an energy-restricted diet. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim based on newly developed scientific evidence. The food proposed by the applicant as the subject of the health claim is Vibigaba. The Panelconsiders that the germinated brown rice Vibigaba is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is in the context of an energy-restricted diet contributes to weight loss'. The Panelconsiders that reduction of body weight in the context of an energy-restricted diet is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panelnotes that the applicant did not perform a comprehensive literature search to identify human intervention studies which could be pertinent to the claim. The applicant identified one human intervention study as being pertinent to the claim. The Panelnotes the important methodological limitations of the study (e.g. statistical methods used for data analysis not appropriate for the study design) and that the information provided on the design and conduct of the study is insufficient for a complete scientific evaluation. The Panelconsiders that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panelconcludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Vibigaba (germinated brown rice) and reduction of body weight in the context of an energy-restricted diet. Non

Following an application from Loc Troi group, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of the Netherlands, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Vibigaba (germinated brown rice) and maintenance of long‐term normal blood glucose concentration. The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim based on newly developed scientific evidence. The food proposed by the applicant as the subject of the health claim is Vibigaba. The Panel considers that the germinated brown rice Vibigaba is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is ‘contribution to the maintenance of normal glycated haemoglobin level’. The Panel considers that maintenance of long‐term normal blood glucose concentration is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel notes that the applicant did not perform a comprehensive literature search to identify human intervention studies which could be pertinent to the claim. The applicant did not reply to a specific request from EFSA to provide this information. The applicant identified one human intervention study as being pertinent to the claim. The Panel notes the important methodological limitations of the study (e.g. statistical methods used for data analysis not appropriate for the study design) and that the information provided on the design and conduct of the study is insufficient for a complete scientific evaluation. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from this study for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Vibigaba (germinated brown rice) and maintenance of long‐term normal blood glucose concentration.

Following an application from Suomen Terveysravinto Oy, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Finland, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to curcumin and normal functioning of joints. The food that is proposed as the subject of the health claim is curcumin. The Panel considers that curcumin is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect proposed by the applicant is 'normal functioning of joints by reducing the biomarkers of inflammation'. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. Upon a request from EFSA to clarify whether the claimed effect is related to the normal function of joints or rather to the reduction of inflammation, the applicant did not address this issue in the reply. The Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to the maintenance of joint function. The Panel considers that maintenance of joint function is a beneficial physiological effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from 15 human intervention studies conducted in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and from one study in obese subjects on serum cytokines for the scientific substantiation of the claim. In the absence of evidence for an effect of curcumin on the normal function of joints in humans, the results of the human studies on curcumin pharmacokinetics, safety and mechanistic studies, the animal studies and the in vitro studies submitted by the applicant cannot be used as a source of data for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of curcumin and maintenance of joint function. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on proline-specific oligopeptidase (Tolerase (R) G) as a novel food ingredient submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council, taking into account the comments and objections of a scientific nature raised by Member States. The novel food is an enzyme preparation of prolyl-oligopeptidase produced with a genetically modified Aspergillus niger self clone strain. The target population is the general adult population. The results from a bacterial reverse mutation test and of an in vitro chromosome aberration test did not indicate genotoxicity. The Panel considers that the reported effects observed in a 90-day rat study are treatment-related effects and can be attributed to the higher energy consumption by these animals. Taking into account the intended maximum use level for Tolerase (R) G, its daily consumption would correspond to 2,746 mg TOS/person or to 39.2 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day, when considering a default body weight of 70 kg for an adult person. The margin between this value and the dose in the rats, which caused effects attributable to the excess energy intake, is approximately 45. Noting this margin, the Panel considers that it is unlikely that such effects would occur in human at the intended use levels. The Panel concludes that the NF, Tolerase (R) G, is safe for the intended use at the intended use level. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.