Positive ESFA Rulings for Glucosamine Salt, Erythritol

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) issued favorable actions for two natural ingredients allowing for further development of natural products that feature glucosamine salt and erythritol.

The glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid has been added to EFSA’s Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC, allowing it to be used in the manufacture of food supplements sold inside of European Community.

This is the consequence of the positive Scientific Opinion adopted by the EFSA on September 11, 2013 that said (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt is a source of folate added for nutritional purposes to food supplements and the bioavailability of folate from this source.

Gnosis said it is investing many resources to document the benefits of its salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (Quatrefolic®) as a food ingredient for a healthier lifestyle and prove the superiority of reduced folate compared to folic acid.

EFSA also issued a positive opinion on use of erythritol for non-alcoholic beverages on March 5th 2015. Erythritol has been allowed quantum satis (“the amount which is needed") in food since 2006, but not yet in beverages due to previous EFSA concerns about laxative effects.

Jungbunzlauer said this revised EFSA statement resembles the most important milestone and pre-requisite for an extension of erythritol usage into the beverages category in Europe. “After many years of discussions of scientific studies for getting the positive opinion, EFSA finally concluded on new data filed that erythritol, at a maximum usage level of 1.6 percent in non-alcoholic beverage, is safe for the consumer and without adverse effects, including laxation," Jungbunzlauer noted in a press release.

The European Commission may now initiate the legislative process in order to allow erythritol for the formulation of sugar reduced non-alcoholic beverages. Jungbunzlauer, which supplies ERYLITE® erythritol, said this approval could come still within 2015.