New year, new foodsArancha Bocanegra, professor of the Master in Food Safety Management .
Food and gastronomy are in fashion, and therefore, so is food. The industry and chefs have been looking for a food that surprises the customer with its novelty for some time now, and to do so, exotic products are imported from other countries and the latest technologies are used for processing.
An example of the latter case is the use of artificial nanomaterials in the food industry. But not everything is valid. The search for the unknown “food” has led to the introduction of products on the market that are not recognized as food in our country.
Does this put our food security at risk?
The principle of ensuring a high level of protection for consumers' health and interests must continue to be respected with these new foods. To this end, the EU has regulated new foods and new food ingredients line data since 1997 through Regulation 258/97 and Regulation 1852/2001.
In order to be able to apply the legislation to new foods marketed in the EU , including those imported from third countries, as well as to take into account the technological process and scientific progress, its regulation has been updated. It is with the beginning of this new year that its general application begins after the approval of Regulation 2015/2283 of November 25, regarding new foods , by which the two regulations that regulated them are repealed.
The new regulation clarifies and updates the existing definition of novel foods by referring to the general definition of foods according to Regulation 178/2002. However, one of the criteria for a food to be considered novel remains: that it has not been used to a significant extent for human consumption in the Member States of the Union before 15 May 1997.
The categories of foods that constitute novel foods have also been revised and updated . These include whole insects and their parts, foods with a new or intentionally modified molecular structure, as well as foods derived from cell culture or tissue culture derived from animals, plants, microorganisms, fungi or algae, foods obtained from microorganisms, fungi or algae, and foods obtained from material of mineral origin, among others.
Likewise, and since emerging technologies in food production processes may have an impact on products and, therefore, on food safety, the Regulation specifies that a food must be considered new if it results from a production process not used for food production in the Union prior to the aforementioned date, which causes significant changes in the composition or structure of the food that affect its nutritional value, its metabolism or the level of undesirable substances.
In relation to traditional foods from third countries, in order to facilitate their marketing in the Union, a history of safe food use in a third country must be demonstrated; that is, that it has been consumed in at least one third country for at least 25 years as part of the regular diet of a significant number of people.
How does this affect food business operators?
The determination of whether a food was used for human consumption to a significant extent in the Union before 15 May 1997 must be based on information provided by food businesses and, where appropriate, supported by information available in the Member States.
If food businesses have doubts about the condition of food they intend to place on the market, they must consult the Member States. In the event that information on human consumption prior to the above date is not available or is insufficient, a procedure for collecting such information, involving the Commission, the Member States and food business operators, is pending.
Novel foods should only be authorised and used if they meet the criteria set out in the new legislation. They will only be placed on the market or used in foods for human consumption if they are included in an EU list of authorised novel foods. This list is expected to be published shortly and will be updated. When a novel food is authorised and included in the EU list, food business operators must provide the Commission with any new relevant information on the safety of the food they have placed on the market.