Guidance on the scientific requirements for an application for authorisation of a novel food in the context of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

The European Commission requested EFSA to update the scientific guidance for the preparation of applications for authorisation of novel foods, previously developed following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods. This guidance document provides advice on the scientific information needed to be submitted by the applicant towards demonstrating the safety of the novel food. Requirements pertain to the description of the novel food, production process, compositional data, specifications, proposed uses and use levels and anticipated intake of the novel food.

Novel foods, food enzymes, and food additives derived from food by-products of plant or animal origin: principles and overview of the EFSA safety assessment.

The European Union (EU) is committed to transitioning toward a circular economy model, with food waste being one of the areas to be targeted. To close the loop of food waste generated during food processing and discarded at the retail or consumption phases, research and innovation parties proposed to valorize agro-food by-products to produce novel foods and food improvement agents (food additives, food enzymes, and food flavorings). In the EU, the authorization of such novel foods and food improvement agents is governed by different regulatory frameworks.

Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive.

This opinion addresses the re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as food additive and an application for its exemption from the laxative warning label requirement as established under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Erythritol is a polyol obtained by fermentation with BC or KW3-6, followed by purifications and drying. Erythritol is readily and dose-dependently absorbed in humans and can be metabolised to erythronate to a small extent.

Follow-up of the re-evaluation of glycerol esters of wood rosins (E 445) as a food additive.

Glycerol esters of wood rosin (GEWR) (E 445) were re-evaluated in 2018. On the toxicity database and given the absence of reproductive and developmental toxicity data, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 12.5 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for GEWR (E 445) established by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 1994 was considered temporary.

Safety assessment of the process Derchia D.C. Plastics, based on the Starlinger deCON technology, used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Derchia D.C. Plastics (EU register number RECYC258), which uses the Starlinger deCON technology.

Safety assessment of the process Petecoflex, based on the Starlinger deCON technology, used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Petecoflex (EU register number RECYC259), which uses the Starlinger deCON technology. The input material is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, e.g.

Scientific Guidance on the data required for the risk assessment of flavourings to be used in or on foods.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA developed a new scientific guidance to assist applicants in the preparation of applications for the authorisation of flavourings to be used in or on foods. This guidance applies to applications for a new authorisation as well as for a modification of an existing authorisation of a food flavouring, submitted under Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. It defines the scientific data required for the evaluation of those food flavourings for which an evaluation and approval is required according to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008.

Growth and metabolic performance of black soldier fly larvae grown on low and high-quality substrates.

We have measured growth and respiration in black soldier fly (BSF) larvae fed with mixtures of a low-quality substrate (degassed sludge, DS), and a high-quality substrate (chicken feed, CF) in order to elucidate how substrate quality affect larval metabolism and feed conversion into new biomass. The BSF larvae grew faster and became larger the higher the content of CF was in the substrate. Growth followed a sigmoidal curve from where the specific growth rate was determined and compared to measured specific respiration rates, in order to estimate costs of growth, maintenance metabolism, rates of feed assimilation, and net growth efficiency.