据营养成分网消息，在本月初由法律事务所Eversheds举办的食品及饮料研讨会上，Eversheds认为，由酸奶及活性发酵乳协会（YLFA）提出的益生菌作为通用描述符的申请不会成功，因为对于一般消费者来说，益生菌术语是和健康声称相关联的，并且该术语在市场上的使用历史不长。
部分原文报道如下：
The chances of the European Commission （EC） approving the latest bid to use the term 'probiotic' as a 'generic descriptor' are slim, according to law firm Eversheds.
During a food and drink seminar organised by Eversheds earlier this month, Katharine Vickery, a partner with the firm, doubted that the attempt by the Yoghurt & Live Fermented Milks Association to get probiotic accepted as a generic descriptor would be successful.
The reason it was unlikely to be successful, she said, was because the term was too closely associated in the average consumer's mind with a health claim and there was insufficient history of its use in the market.
Generic descriptor
A generic descriptor is a term which has traditionally been used to indicate a particular class of food and beverage and which, like 'tonic water', 'digestive biscuits' and 'cough drops', could imply an effective on health. The EC has laid down the procedures necessary to exempt generic descriptors from associated health claims.
Evidence of presence in the market of EU Member States （MSs） for over 20 years has to be demonstrated. Consumers also have to link the generic descriptor with the specific class of food or drinks mentioned.
原文链接：<http://www.nutraingredients.com/Product-Categories/Probiotics-and-prebiotics/Probiotic-labelling-bid-shaky-says-top-legal-group>
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