UK issues draft Novel Foods approval for Martek EPA-DHA algae oil

The draft Novel Foods approval acknowledged that much of the science was already in place to back the safety and efficacy of the ingredient, as the DHA-EPA version was derived from the same Schizochytrium ​algae species as Martek's DHA version that is already approved in the EU.

“The applicant concludes that these studies demonstrate that the intake of DHA-O arising from consumption in the proposed food categories does not give rise to any safety concerns noting that their NOAEL value equates to consumption of approximately 200g of DHA-O per day for a 60kg adult,”​ the FSA Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) said.

It added: “The Committee highlighted that current policy in the UK is to encourage the intake of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and that this product may help consumers with low intakes to increase their consumption of n-3 fatty acids.”​

A public consultation period on the draft opinion closes on November 7, 2011.

The opinion can be found here.​