US company Technology Crops International has applied to the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) for approval to market a refined oil as a novel food ingredient in a range of foods. The oil is from a plant known as Buglossoides arvensis.
The company plans to include refined oil from Bugglossoides arvensis seeds in a range of foods, including milk-based products, drinkable yoghurts, breakfast cereals and food supplements.
According to Technology Crops International, the refined oil is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that could be consumed by people looking to increase their intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, who are unwilling or unable to consume fish oils. This might include vegetarians, for example.
The FSA is asking for views on the application, which is made according to the rules on novel foods.
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 into 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.
