Lycopene awaits approval

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received a novel food application for the extract lycopene -- an oleoresin produced from red ripe tomatoes -- which has antioxidant properties.

If approved, the lycopene-rich tomato extract could soon be used in wellbeing products ranging from yoghurts, cheese and bread to sausages and cereal bars.

LycoRed Natural Products Industries hopes to market its lycopene oleoresin in dairy and snack based products at a level of 5mg of lycopene per serving.

Despite the fact that lycopene is currently marketed as an ingredient in food supplements and as a food colour (E160d) in the European Union, to be marketed as a novel food ingredient the regulations say it must be assessed for safety. That assessment is carried out in the UK by a committee of scientists appointed by the FSA's Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes.