Imaginative omega 3 solutions: Incromega™ 3mulsion DHA
Croda Europe
The IFST statements are mainly aimed at food scientists but are also available to the public and consumer media. The statements are often produced for food ingredients generating significant coverage in the media or those that require an objective pooling of technical and regulatory data.
Margarines containing plant sterols have been available in Europe for some years but last year European authorities cleared the way for the addition of plant sterols to a number of new foods.
The move is set to generate a wave of new product launches in coming months, increasing the need for accurate information on such foods.
Also last year an expert panel commissioned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended that sterol-containing foodstuffs should not be consumed in amounts that would result in total phytosterol intakes of more than 3g per day.
This recommendation led to December's regulation (608/2004/EC) requiring food manufacturers to include this information on product labelling as well as advice to consumers regarding the need for regular consumption of fruits and vegetables to address the potential beta-carotene lowering effect of the product, and information for people on cholesterol-lowering medication and pregnant women.
In England, the Food with Added Phytosterols or Phytostanols (Labelling) (England) Regulations 2004 were published on 15 December 2004 to provide for the enforcement of the European law.
IFST's statement can be found here .