EU novel foods wrap: Clubmoss, omega-3 oils and zeaxanthin

The UK Food Standards Agency is assessing two novel food applications for clubmoss sporopollenin shell extracts and a novel omega-3 and omega-6 oil; while DSM is lauding the official EU recognition of nature-identical zeaxanthin.

UK firm Sporomex Ltd said it planned to fill spores of the clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum plant with nutrients like vitamin D and omega-3 oils.

It suggested the spores, which Sporomex said could mask unpleasant tastes of certain nutrients could be used in:

  • food supplements
  • bakery products
  • breakfast cereals
  • dairy products and dairy substitutes
  • foods for special medical purposes
  • foods for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction
  • foods for particular nutritional uses ('PARNUTs', as defined in Directive 2009/39/EC)

The application can be found here.

Buglossoides arvensis oil

US firm Technology Crops International submitted an application to the UK FSA for an omega-3 and omega-6 oil derived from seeds of the Buglossoides arvensis plant.

Technology Crops International said the oil was substantially equivalent to a Croda oil refined from Echium plantagineum.

The firm sough to have the oil approved in the same categories approved for Croda:

  • milk products
  • drinkable yoghurts
  • breakfast cereals
  • cheese preparations
  • food supplements
  • dietary foods for special medical purposes
  • foods intended for use in energy restricted diets and weight reduction

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997.

The application can be seen here.

Zeaxanthin 

DSM Nutritional Products said the EU approval for the zeaxanthin carotenoid opened up the EU market for its version of the nutrient with eye health links, although these links have not to date been confirmed by the EU’s nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union (EU) before 15 May 1997.