Lipofoods seeks novel foods equivalence for soya sterol

Barcelona-based Lipofoods, an independent division of Lipotec, has requested an opinion from the UK's Food Standards Agency which, if favourable, would then allow it to submit a notification of equivalence to the European Commission.

Although it is unlikely to touch the sales of ingredients giant ADM - one of the top three players alongside Cognis and Raisio which are said to control 82 per cent of sterol/stanol market share revenue between them - the competition could further intensify between the small companies vying for the remainder.

According to Frost and Sullivan, the European market was worth $184.6m (c €144.5m) in 2005, with estimates that it will reach $395.2m (€309.3m) in 2012, an increase of 114 per cent.

The global growth consultancy said in May that there were 22 other companies active in the market, besides the three leaders.

Since phytosterol-containing products such as spreads, yoghurts, dressings and cheese-type products first started to appear on the market a decade ago, consumer awareness has skyrocketed.

Many prefer to use dietary approaches to lowering cholesterol levels over drugs such as statins, which may come with side effects, and as the scientific evidence of their efficacy continues to mount, their use is also being championed by health care practitioners.

ADM's soya-derived ingredient was approved under novel foods legislation in 1994. Any food or ingredients without a significant history of consumption in the bloc before May 1997 is classified as a novel food.

The FSA's Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), an independent committee of scientists, is charged with assessing applications.

ACNFP is inviting email comments​ on Lipofood's submission, available online​, until September 4.