What are novel foods?
Overview of novel foods and technologies, why they're developed, and the regulations that control their use.
'Novel foods' are foods that have not been widely consumed in the European Union before 15 May 1997. Novel foods either do not have any 'history of consumption', or are produced using new processes which result in one or more of the following:
- changes to the food's composition
- changes to the food's nutritional value
- undesirable substances in the food
- changes to the way in which the food is metabolised
Using high-pressure processing as an alternative to heat pasteurisation is an example of a novel food process. Novel foods can include different types of products - for example:
- oils and other extracts or concentrates including from existing foods
- new carbohydrates and protein sources
- seeds and berries
Reasons for the development of novels foods
Food companies may want to introduce novel foods for different reasons, This may be, for example, because:
- they can produce them more efficiently
- they provide health benefits for consumers
Are novel foods regulated?
Before a novel food can be legally marketed, it must have a pre-market safety assessment and authorisation. The assessment and authorisation ensure that the novel foods:
- are safe
- are not misleading to the consumer
- do not replace other foods in a way that would nutritionally disadvantage consumers
There are two possible routes for authorisation of novel foods:
- a simplified application for traditional foods from countries outside the UK or EU
- a full application for all other novel foods
Novel foods legislation
The current EU regulation on novel foods was introduced in 2018. The regulation:
- expanded the categories of novel foods
- introduced a simplified, centralised authorisation procedure
- introduced a simplified assessment for traditional foods from non-EU countries
- established a
- included data protection provisions for certain innovative novel foods
Find out more about the .
Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for novel foods placed on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised products will be able to be placed on the NI market.
To apply for an authorisation of a novel food in Great Britain, use the UK's .
Researching public opinion on novel foods
The Food Standards Agency protects consumers' interests in relation to food matters, keeping up to date with public opinion about emerging food technologies. Their research shows that the public is still wary of novel food technologies, including genetically modified food and animal cloning.