Probiotic yoghurt drinks and supplements don’t live up to their promises, according to an EU watchdog. They claim to boost your immune system and help digestion. It concluded there is no scientific proof that products such as Yakult have any health benefits at all.

　　近些年来，“益生菌”被广泛地添加到酸奶当中，益生菌酸奶也因对肠道免疫功能的促进作用而受到广大消费者的喜爱。然而，近日欧洲监察部门却对益生菌对人体健康的宣传提出“质疑”，该部门认为益生菌益处并无科学性，对健康“毫无益处”。

　　The watchdog dismissed more than 800 claims regarding the increasingly popular probiotic drinks, yoghurts and whey proteins, vitamins, supplements, ruling that suggestions the products could strengthen the body’s natural defences and reduce gut problems were either too general or could not be proven.

　　欧洲监察部门驳回了800个关于益生菌饮料以及酸奶对健康有益的宣传。他们认为广告对益生菌有益促进肠道免疫功能以及提高免疫系统的宣传“名不副实”，有太多数据没有经过证实。

　　The supposed health benefits of probiotic goods enable manufacturers to sell them at much higher prices than normal yoghurts and milkshakes.

　　据悉，在奶制品销售市场上，商家所售的标有“益生菌”字样的酸奶价格要比普通酸奶要高。

　　Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Authority watchdog banned a TV advert for Actimel, manufactured by Danone, which suggested it stopped children falling ill. It ruled that the promotion was ‘misleading’ and its claim that the drink was ‘scientifically proven to help support your kids’ defences’ was not supported.

　　有广告监察部门对达能集团旗下的奶制品Actimel提出控诉，因为他们的电视广告宣传说该产品“能防止儿童生病”，监察部门认为宣传对受众起到了“误导”的效果，毕竟益生菌的效果仍旧没经过任何机构的科学认证。

　　Danone has subsequentlydropped most of its claims that Activia yoghurts and Actimel drinks boost the immune system. But other probiotic firms claim the European watchdog has been unnecessarily rigorous.

　　达能集团随后撤下了广告中对与产品能提高免疫系统的话语。然而，其他的益生菌公司却认为欧洲监察局的做法太“小题大作”了。

　　Last night, Yakult issued a statement saying the rejected claim was just one aspect of its research. A spokesman added: ‘The claim was supported by well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled human studies.‘In response to the EFSA opinion, the company wishes to discuss the evaluation process and this outcome with EFSA.‘With the benefit of further guidance, the company anticipates a positive EFSA opinion in due course.’

　　益力多（全球最大的活性乳酸菌饮料巨头） 发言人称，公司会继续关注欧盟食品安全官方网站EFSA 对益生菌的研究进展，期待益生菌有益健康的研究尽快得到证实。

　　Vocabulary:

　　subsequently adv. 随后，其后；后来