FSA Consultation, 29 July 2005

NOVEL FOODS - Views wanted on type of sugar

The Agency is consulting on the initial draft opinion, by independent experts, of the novel food ingredient D-Tagatose.

D-Tagatose is a sugar and is naturally present in heat-treated dairy products. It is slightly less sweet than table sugar and provides less energy. Bioresco, acting on behalf of Arla Food Ingredients, wants to sell D-Tagatose as an ingredient for a range of products, including drinks, sweets and breakfast cereals.

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).

Following an initial public consultation period and the discussion of this application by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) at its 30 March and 19 May 2005 meetings, and by post, has formulated a draft initial opinion on this novel food ingredient. Any comments should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 8 August 2005 and will be passed to the Committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food ingredient.