Novel Foods

Italy: Pilot Study Shows Food Allergen Carryover in Black Soldier Fly Larvae

An Italian pilot study has shown that soy and celery allergens can persist in black soldier fly larvae reared on allergen-containing substrates even after 48 hours of fasting, while peanut was not detected and gluten remained below analytical limits. This strengthens the case for careful substrate selection and precautionary allergen labelling for insect-based foods in Europe as Hermetia illucens moves closer to potential novel food authorisation under the EU framework.

14 May 2026, 19:17mdpi.comItalyEuropean Union

UK Regulatory Policy Committee Updates Cross-Government Tracker of Outstanding Post-Implementation Reviews

In May 2026 the UK Regulatory Policy Committee refreshed its cross-government tracker of outstanding post-implementation reviews, highlighting that reviews for several key environment, chemicals, HSE and food regulations are overdue or due within the next six months. This signals that regimes such as UK F-gas and ozone-depleting substances controls, agricultural diffuse pollution rules, novel foods and worker-safety frameworks may soon be opened for review, so compliance and policy teams should anticipate forthcoming consultations and possible changes to obligations.

13 May 2026, 19:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EFSA NDA Concludes L‑Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine from Soya Lecithin Is Safe as a Novel Food

In March 2026 EFSA’s NDA Panel issued a positive safety opinion on L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine from soya lecithin as a novel food ingredient for use at low-dose levels in food supplements for consumers over three years of age in the EU. This scientific assessment paves the way for potential EU authorisation and market entry, signalling a new choline source option for supplement manufacturers while confirming no safety concerns at the proposed intake levels.

13 May 2026, 19:07efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA NDA Panel Concludes Safety of Schizochytrium sp. A2 Oil for Infant and Follow-On Formula Cannot Be Established

EFSA's NDA Panel has concluded that, on the current evidence, the safety of a DHA-rich oil from Schizochytrium sp. A2 proposed as a novel food ingredient for infant and follow-on formula and adult supplements cannot be established under the EU Novel Food framework. This means no immediate expansion of DHA sourcing options for EU infant formula and supplements, so manufacturers should continue relying on existing authorised ingredients while monitoring for any revised dossiers or Commission decisions.

13 May 2026, 11:58efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA NDA Issues Opinion on Safety of Beta-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (β-NMN) as a Novel Food for Adult Food Supplements

In May 2026 EFSA's NDA Panel concluded that chemically synthesised beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide (β-NMN) is safe as a novel food ingredient in adult food supplements at doses up to 300 mg per day, providing a bioavailable source of niacin under the EU novel foods and food supplements frameworks. This scientific opinion sets a clear safety benchmark for forthcoming EU authorisation decisions and gives supplement manufacturers an evidence-based intake limit and specification profile for any β-NMN products targeting the European market.

13 May 2026, 11:58efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA Opens Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Novel Food Risk Assessment And Admits Carvacrol And GM Maize Dossiers

EFSA has validated a novel food application for gamma-aminobutyric acid, admitted a carvacrol pesticide dossier and logged a GM maize renewal request into its Open EFSA register in May 2026. These early-stage assessments signal potential future authorisations or conditions for novel ingredients, pesticides and GM crops in the EU, giving manufacturers and food chain operators advance visibility on regulatory risk and timelines.

11 May 2026, 11:42open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Open Adds Zinc and Selenium Feed Additive Dossiers; GMO Maize Applications Removed From Ongoing Work

EFSA’s Open EFSA platform has added a new zinc chelate feed additive dossier and updated a group of selenium feed additive dossiers, while several GMO maize and food improvement agent applications have disappeared from the ongoing work list in early May 2026. These pipeline changes indicate active EU risk assessment ahead of potential authorisation or renewal decisions, so feed and food operators using these additives or affected GMOs should monitor EFSA outputs and prepare for possible adjustments to permitted uses and conditions.

9 May 2026, 13:26open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Decision Terminates Novel Food Authorisation Procedure for Gel Food Product NF 2019/1395 Without Updating Union List

In May 2026, the European Commission published an implementing decision that terminates the EU novel food authorisation procedure for gel food product NF 2019/1395 without amending the Union list of authorised novel foods. This leaves the product outside the EU’s authorised novel foods list, so companies cannot rely on EU-wide authorisation for this specific gel product and may need to adjust innovation and product plans accordingly.

9 May 2026, 07:16ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU PAFF Novel Food Committee Publishes 13 May 2026 Agenda on Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons and Novel Foods

The European Commission’s PAFF Novel Food and Toxicological Safety committee has published the 13 May 2026 agenda, highlighting draft measures on mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and several novel food authorisations. These agenda items signal upcoming EU decisions on MOH limits, sampling methods and specific novel foods, giving food and packaging businesses early warning of potential new compliance requirements.

5 May 2026, 15:55food.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU EFSA Pauses UV-Treated Mealworm Oil Novel Food Assessment Until 20 May 2026

EFSA has updated its OpenEFSA entry for the UV-treated mealworm oil novel food application, confirming that the risk-assessment clock remains stopped until 20 May 2026 with an internal assessment deadline of 14 October 2026. For food and ingredient manufacturers this is a procedural timing update under the EU Novel Food Regulation, signalling when an EFSA opinion may be expected rather than introducing any new regulatory obligations, but it can inform planning for product launch and EU market authorisation strategies.

4 May 2026, 18:23open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Sets Clock Stop Until 15 June 2026 for Synthetic Paraxanthine Novel Food Application (EFSA-Q-2023-00571)

EFSA has updated its novel food application entry for synthetic paraxanthine (EFSA-Q-2023-00571), confirming the assessment remains in ongoing risk assessment status with a clock stop expected until 15 June 2026 under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. This indicates that any EU authorisation decision and related market opportunities or compliance duties around using synthetic paraxanthine in food will not crystallise before at least mid-2026, extending the planning horizon and uncertainty for food and ingredient manufacturers.

3 May 2026, 07:21open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Places Xia Powder 435 Novel Food Modification Application Under EC Validation

EFSA has updated its novel foods record for Xia Powder 435 to show that the modification application remains at intake status but has completed suitability checks and is now under European Commission validation as of late April 2026. This procedural step indicates the dossier is moving forward within the EU novel foods framework, but no changes to the existing authorisation apply yet, so food companies should monitor for the eventual EFSA opinion and Commission implementing act that could alter conditions of use or labelling.

30 Apr 2026, 10:38open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Opens Public Consultation On Calcifediol Novel Food Application

EFSA has launched a public consultation on Carbogen Amcis BV’s application to authorise calcifediol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) as a novel food ingredient under the EU Novel Food Regulation, with risk assessment ongoing toward an October 2026 deadline. Food and supplement manufacturers should monitor this case as it could expand permitted vitamin D metabolite options once EFSA issues its opinion and the EU takes subsequent authorisation decisions, potentially affecting product formulation and market access strategies.

30 Apr 2026, 08:29open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Intake: Application to Authorise N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as a Novel Food

EFSA has accepted an application to authorise N‑acetylglucosamine, also known as GlcNAc, as a novel food under the EU Novel Food Regulation, with the dossier now under suitability check as of late April 2026. If this ingredient is later authorised, food and beverage companies planning to use GlcNAc will need to align formulations, labelling, and EU market entry plans with the specific permitted uses, use levels, and consumer groups defined in the eventual authorisation.

30 Apr 2026, 06:51open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU EFSA Updates Risk-Assessment Timeline for Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106 Novel Food Application

EFSA has updated its novel food dossier EFSA‑Q‑2022‑00552, confirming that Anaerobutyricum soehngenii CH106 remains under ongoing risk assessment with a clockstop running until 07 May 2026 and a current risk-assessment deadline of 27 July 2026. This means any EU authorisation decision for products using this strain is unlikely before the second half of 2026, so food and ingredient developers should plan for a longer approval timeline and avoid assuming near-term market entry.

29 Apr 2026, 18:06open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Amends Novel Food Conditions and Labelling for Pasteurised Akkermansia Muciniphila

The European Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/391 to amend the Union list of novel foods for pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila, extending authorised uses to adolescents and updating specific labelling conditions. Manufacturers of food supplements and foods for special medical purposes containing this ingredient must reassess formulations and labels against the new age-specific maximum daily doses and warning statements ahead of entry into force in March 2026.

29 Apr 2026, 12:08eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU EFSA Sets Clock Stop Until 18 May 2026 for Serratiopeptidase Novel Food Application

EFSA has updated the timeline for its ongoing risk assessment of a novel food application for the enzyme Serratiopeptidase, confirming a clock stop until 18 May 2026 and an overall deadline of 4 August 2026 for its opinion. Companies developing or using this ingredient should treat EU market authorisation as pending and plan product and supply decisions around a potential approval only after EFSA's assessment and subsequent Commission decision.

28 Apr 2026, 19:51open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU EFSA Registers Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Oleoresin Novel Food Application (Intake Stage)

EFSA has registered a new novel food application (EFSA-Q-2026-00090) for a Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) oleoresin preparation under the EU Novel Food Regulation, with the dossier currently at intake and suitability-check stage in early 2026. If authorised, this ingredient could expand permitted uses of standardised curcuminoid extracts in EU food and supplement products, signalling potential formulation and market opportunities for botanicals suppliers and brand owners.

28 Apr 2026, 19:08open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

China NHC Terminates Review of N‑Acetylneuraminic Acid as New Food Raw Material

In March 2026, China’s National Health Commission closed the pending new food raw material review for N-acetylneuraminic acid after determining the application is substantially equivalent to an already approved NANA ingredient. This is a classification and housekeeping move rather than a new restriction, signalling that fermentation-based NANA products of this type are expected to sit under the existing Chinese NANA approval rather than a separate novel ingredient route.

28 Apr 2026, 11:32cirs-group.comChina

EFSA Sets New Clockstop Date in Novel Food Assessment for Cultivated Protein From Xanthobacter sp. SoF1

EFSA has updated its OpenEFSA entry for novel food application EFSA-Q-2022-00140 on cultivated protein from Xanthobacter sp. SoF1, confirming that the risk assessment remains ongoing with a clockstop expected until 24 April 2026 and an overall opinion deadline of 15 July 2026. This signals continued scientific scrutiny and timing uncertainty for potential EU authorisation of this microbial protein ingredient, which alternative-protein innovators and food manufacturers should monitor when planning product development and market entry.

28 Apr 2026, 11:31open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union