The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is evaluating an application from the Canadian company Bioneutra for the approval to market a carbohydrate, known as isomalto-oligosaccharide, as a novel food ingredient for use in a range of foods.
The FSA's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is seeking views on its opinion that this novel food ingredient should be approved for use.
Bioneutra plans to market this novel carbohydrate for use in a range of foods that include beverages, cereal products and confectionery.
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.
Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, an independent committee of scientists appointed by the FSA.
