FSA confirms rasberry ketones on sale without approval
The sale of raspberry ketones in weight loss and dietary supplements without the approval of regulatory authorities makes our list of the most popular news of 2014.
The Food Standards Agency confirmed raspberry ketones were a novel food and products containing them must go through an approvals procedure by the UK’s Advisory Committee on Novel Food and Processes in March.
Following a review of information it received from a small number of interested parties, the FSA’s enforcement team sent an update to Trading Standards, and a letter to those contributing to the consultation.
The FSA letter stated: “We have confirmed that some raspberry fruit extracts, which may or not be marketed as ‘raspberry ketones’, are outside the definition of a novel food, based on conclusions reached in other EU Member States. This is limited to extracts prepared using water or 20% ethanol (1:4 ethanol:water). These extracts therefore do not require authorisation as novel foods.”
The FSA told FoodManufacture.co.uk in a statement: “Therefore, it is appropriate for enforcement officers to take necessary action by contacting manufacturers and retailers of these various products in order to ensure that they comply with relevant legislation.”