EU confirms digestive health benefits of kiwi

A first for the fresh produce aisle: for the very first time, a fresh fruit has been granted an authorised health claim by the European Commission. That honor goes to Zespri’s green kiwi. Eating two kiwis a day, with at least 200 grams of fruit flesh, supports normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency.

Zespri spent fifteen years working towards this

A dossier packed with evidence, eighteen human intervention studies, and a great deal of persistence. Zespri began collecting data on the benefits of green kiwifruit more than fifteen years ago. The official dossier was submitted to Brussels in 2018. EFSA issued a positive scientific opinion in 2021. And now, it’s official: the European Commission has approved the health claim.

Such approval remains rare. Fewer than one in eight applications succeed, and only three claims have been authorized in the past five years.

A milestone for the entire sector

CEO Jason Te Brake is clear about its significance: “This milestone is not only a first for Zespri, but for the entire fresh produce sector. The approval not only validates Zespri’s health and innovation program, but also delivers tangible value for the sector and recognizes the hard work of our growers to produce nutritious, great-tasting kiwifruit.”

Zespri funded both the research and the application process largely on its own. In the 2024/25 season, the company delivered 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit worldwide, from Green to SunGold and RubyRed, to over 50 markets.

Zespri Green kiwis are known for their fresh, tangy taste and are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. With the health claim now officially in place, Zespri will soon begin incorporating it into local communications in the Netherlands, aimed at consumers who increasingly look for food with proven benefits.

Zespri.com