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
Safety Assessment: Outcome of assessment of Cetylated Fatty Acids as a Novel Food
An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in February 2021 for the authorisation of cetylated fatty acids as a novel food.
Novel Foods Regulatory Framework Review: Executive Summary
This Executive Summary has been prepared for FSA’s exclusive use and the sole purpose of providing to the FSA a summary in connection with informing FSA and commenting on the existing Novel Foods Framework. Deloitte is responsible solely to the FSA for the work performed. No party is entitled to rely on this Executive Summary for any purpose and Deloitte accepts no responsibility or liability or duty of care to any party whatsoever in respect of the contents of this Executive Summary.
Safety assessments of twelve feed additive applications
This is a collection of all the safety assessments for the twelve applications for feed additives for use in animal feed.
Inter-laboratory collaborative trial of real-time PCR method for the relative quantitation of horse DNA and pork DNA in raw and processed beef DNA phases 1 and 2
The project describes the full international interlaboratory collaborative trial to define the performance characteristics of the real-time PCR method for horse and pork DNA in raw and processed beef matrix.
Inter-laboratory collaborative trial of real-time PCR method phase 2
This project was initiated by the Food Standards Agency, UK, with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK.
Inter-laboratory collaborative trial of real-time PCR method for the relative quantitation of horse DNA and pork DNA in raw and processed beef DNA: phase 1
This is the interim report for the completion of objective 1.2.
Outcome of assessment of 3-Nitrooxypropanol “3-NOP” as a feed additive for all ruminants for milk production and reproduction
Outcome of assessment of 3-Nitrooxypropanol “3-NOP” as a feed additive for all ruminants for milk production and reproduction, from DSM Nutritional Products
Identification of hazards in meat products manufactured from cultured animal cells
This report considers the question: What are the potential hazards to the consumer in the consumption of cultured meat?
Hazard identification: Identification of hazards in meat products manufactured from cultured animal cells
A hazard identification examining the potential hazards to the consumer in the consumption of cultured meat.
Assessment of eight GMOs applications submitted in accordance with Retained Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have undertaken an assessment to quality assure risk assessments conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of eight GMOs applications.
Assessment of two novel foods, and miscellaneous regulated products applications under the relevant EU retained law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have undertaken an assessment to quality assure risk assessments conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), of two novel foods, one food additive and one flavouring application as outlined in the linked assessments.
Assessment of the safety of the extended uses of UV-treated Baker’s yeast (S. cerevisiae) as a novel food
The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland have undertaken an assessment of application RP1292 for the safety of the extended uses of ultraviolet (UV)-treated Baker’ yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food, from Lallemand Bio-ingredients.
Assessment of the safety of Vitamin D2 Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powder as a novel food ingredient
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have undertaken an assessment of application RP1158 for the safety of Vitamin D2 Mushroom Powder (Agaricus bisporus) as a novel food, from MBio.
Assessment of new Flavouring Substance 3-(1-((3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(3-hydroxybenzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione
The FSA/FSS have undertaken an assessment of application RP 1382 for the authorisation of a new flavouring substance: 3-(1-((3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1-(3-hydroxybenzyl)imidazolidine-2,4-dione flavour modifier.
Assessment for the Application for a change in the Steviol Glycoside Specification in Great Britain to Include a New Manufacturing Method for Steviol Glycosides Including Rebaudioside M.
The FSA/FSS have undertaken an assessment of application RP 1194 for a change in the steviol glycoside specification in the United Kingdom to include a new manufacturing method for steviol glycosides including Rebaudioside M, from Sweegen, Inc.
Assessment of genetically modified soybean SYHT0H2 for food and feed uses, import and processing, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003
The FSA and FSS have undertaken an assessment of application RP1138 for the authorisation of genetically modified soybean SYHT0H2 for food and feed uses, import and processing.
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.
Alternative Proteins for Human Consumption
This report presents an analysis of the emerging market for alternative proteins, the potential implications and the potential policy responses.
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.