FSA News Item, 10 July 2007
A company has applied to the Food Standards Agency to approve kiwiberry concentrate from the hardy kiwi fruit as a novel food ingredient.
Novel foods are a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997.
The applicant, Efficas Inc., proposes to market its kiwiberry concentrate as a novel food ingredient in a range of food products including drinks, cereal and cereal products, milk and milk products, sugars, preserves and confectionery, and savoury snacks. They intend to market the berry as a new fruit in the European Union.
What is kiwiberry concentrate?
Kiwiberry concentrate is produced by concentrating the hot water soluble components of the dried hardy kiwi fruit (Actinidia arguta), also known as baby kiwi fruit. Hardy kiwi fruit is similar in taste to the common green kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) but is smaller with a fuzzless, smooth skin.
Assessing safety
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 normally carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Agency, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).
Deadline for views
Any comments on this application should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 30 July 2007 and will be passed to the Committee before it finalises its opinion.