A first EFSA opinion on curcuminoids as novel food: a new success for Nutraveris

The application, submitted by Sabinsa Europe GmbH, and managed by Nutraveris, requested the possibility to use tetrahydrocurcuminoids from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in food supplements (product name: Curcumin C3 Reduct®). The application was based on the analysis on 10 batches of the ingredient, characterized by an internal method developed by Sabinsa Europe GmbH, and presented in the application. The ingredient is characterized by a concentration greater than 95% in tetrahydrocurcuminoids.

The safety of the novel food was substantiated by 6 toxicity studies: 2 bacterial reverse mutation test, one in vitro mammalian micronucleus test, one acute oral toxicity test, on 90-day repeated dose oral toxicity test with a 14-day recovery period, and one reproductive and developmental toxicity test. All these tests demonstrated the lack of safety concern associated with the consumption of the novel food ingredient.

This first EFSA opinion obtain by Nutraveris on curcuminoids demonstrates that some of the turmeric preparations currently on the market are clearly novel and should be authorized in accordance with the novel food regulation.

EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens), Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pelaez C, Pentieva K, Siani A, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Cubadda F, Frenzel T, Heinonen M, Marchelli R, Neuhauser-Berthold M, Poulsen M, Prieto Maradona M, Schlatter JR, van Loveren H, Ackerl R, Kouloura E and Knutsen HK, 2021. Scientific Opinion on the safety of tetrahydrocurcuminoids from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal 2021;19(12):6936

Source : https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6936

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