Definition
What is Novel Foods?
Foods and ingredients without significant consumption history in the EU or other jurisdictions, requiring pre-market safety assessment and authorisation.
Foods and ingredients without significant consumption history in the EU or other jurisdictions, requiring pre-market safety assessment and authorisation.
Foresight tracks Novel Foods developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
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Last updated
14 May 2026, 19:17
Source-backed regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight, with the newest developments first.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These are just a few of the most recent Novel Foods alerts. Foresight tracks every jurisdiction, every day — and surfaces only what affects your portfolio, with full citations and evidence.
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Definition
Foods and ingredients without significant consumption history in the EU or other jurisdictions, requiring pre-market safety assessment and authorisation.
Industry relevance
Novel Foods developments can change product scope, supplier expectations, market access, reporting duties, and risk ownership. Foresight tracks the signals early so teams can respond before obligations become urgent.
Foresight tracking
Foresight monitors official sources, extracts structured regulatory intelligence, and maps alerts to a customer's products, substances, markets, and priorities so teams see the relevant signal with source evidence for review.
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