Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 and \u201cnatural defences/immune system\u201d (ID 993) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to provide a scientific opinion on a list of health claims pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. This opinion addresses the scientific substantiation of health claims in relation to Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 and \u201cnatural defences/immune system\u201d. The scientific substantiation is based on the information provided by the Member States in the consolidated list of Article 13 health claims and references that EFSA has received from Member States or directly from stakeholders. The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685. The Panel considers that Lactobacillus plantarum BFE 1685 is sufficiently characterised. The claimed effect is \u201cnatural defences/immune system\u201d. The target population is assumed to be the general population. The claimed effect is not sufficiently defined and no further details were given in the proposed wording or the clarifications provided by Member States. Several effects/parameters were mentioned in the information provided, and it was not possible to establish which specific effect is the target for the claim. The Panel considers that the claimed effect is general and non-specific, and does not refer to any specific health claim as required by Regulation (EC) No 1924/200