Novel and non-traditional foods, additives and processes

What is the impact and risk of novel and non-traditional foods, additives, and processes on the food system, including on consumer confidence?

Food innovation and use of new foods and technological developments have the potential to add variety to our diets and address some of the challenges facing the food production system today. As these foods and feeds have not been eaten before there is a need to understand the impact of these new products or technologies to ensure consumers have access to safe food innovation.

The overarching aim of this Area of Research Interest (ARI) is to understand the impact of these regulated products and emerging food innovations on the UK consumer.

The major aims of this ARI include:

Building our scientific understanding of new food products, processes and innovations;
Exploring detection techniques to understand the nature of these products and to provide support for enforcement as needed; and
Employing social science methodologies to assess consumer acceptance and uptake of food innovations.

This ARI contributes to the wider work of the FSA on products that require premarket review to ensure any food safety issues are managed. This ARI also adds to the evidence base to understand new foods, food ingredients or feed additives that are near market so these can be assessed in a proportionate way.

Research projects related to the programme

Rapid risk assessment: what is the risk to consumers from consumption of the seven edible insects' products currently available in the UK market?

Technical Report Risk Profile on Edible Insects

Edible insects have been available to consumers in the UK market for several years. The Novel Food legislation covering edible insects was updated in 2018.

Comparing international approaches to food safety regulation of GM and Novel Foods

The study explored several aspects of food safety regulation, including definitions, underlying legislation, authorisation processes and production standards.

Genome Editing and the Future of Food

Report from the December 2020 stakeholder workshop.

Consumer research report on cannabidiol (CBD) extracts

This consumer research into the behaviours and attitudes of cannabidiol (CBD) extracts users was carried out to better understand how they use CBD and whether they are aware that it is classified as a ‘novel food’.

Combining existing multiplex PCR with lab-on-chip capillary electrophoresis for detection of GMOs

This research project will develop rapid and simple genetically modified organism (GMO) screening methods using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches and endpoint detection using lab-on-a-chip capillary electrophoresis.

GM free labelling: Exploring public responses to the labelling of GM food and the use of GM-free labelling

This research explored UK consumer responses to GM labelling, including 'GM-free' labelling. The results were presented to the Board at the April 2013 meeting. The results will: (1) inform UK policy on the use of 'GM free' labelling and (2) ensure that the UK public’s views are reflected in our future discussions at EU level on GM labelling issues.

Development of models for the analysis of metabolome variability in crops

This project addresses the need to have baseline metabolomic data for crops, to use as a reference in assessing new crop varieties (GM or non-GM). It also addresses how the quality of the raw data used for assessment purposes may affect the safety assessment.

Quantitation using informative zeros (QUIZ) part 2 - application for testing GMOs

This project aimed to determine the potential of QUIZ for the quantification of genetically modified (GM) material in food by further development and testing of the methodology established in a previous proof of concept study (G03025).

Procedure for the isolation of transgene flanking regions in GM crops

This project involved the refinement and validation of a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for characterisation of junction sequences in a range of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Quantitation Using Informative Zeros (QUIZ) proof of concept

This initial proof of concept study is designed to demonstrate the potential of Quantitation Using Informative Zeros (QUIZ) as a high-throughput methodology to measure Genetically Modified (GM) presence in food.

Factors influencing transgene survival and transfer in the rumen

This project examined the fate of transgenic DNA in genetically modified (GM) food/feed in the gut of farm animals.

GMOseek: Development of screening methods for GMOs

In this project nine novel assays/methods to aid the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food/feed have been developed. Once successfully validated, the methods will be made available, worldwide, to improve the ability of enforcement laboratories to detect the current and next generation of GMOs present in food/feed.