FSA News item, 2 November 2004

NOVEL FOODS - Views wanted on plant sterols in fruit juice

The Agency has received an application from Coca-Cola Services S.A. seeking approval to market fruit juices, fruit nectars and tomato juice with added plant sterols.

Plant sterols are used by the food industry for their cholesterol-lowering properties. They are naturally present at low levels in vegetable oils and in food derived from such sources.

Coca-Cola plans to add 0.4% of phytosterols to fruit juices, including tomato juice and nectars.

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 an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).

Any comments on this application should go to the ACNFP secretariat by 23 November 2004 .