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Landscape of ingredient norms continuously evolving
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Monday, 20 October, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Dr P V Naik
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The landscape of food ingredient regulation is continuously evolving in response to scientific advances, consumer preferences, and public health concerns. In USA and Europe, regulatory authorities are increasingly focused on transparency, safety, and environmental sustainability, shaping the future of food ingredient standards. This article explores recent developments, highlighting key regulatory changes, their implications, and ongoing trends.
# Regulatory Framework in USA
1. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Initiatives
The FDA oversees the safety and labelling of food ingredients under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The recent developments include:
1. GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) Process Reforms: The FDA is refining its process for evaluating and confirming the safety of GRAS ingredients. This involves increased transparency, public consultation, and input from scientific experts, aiming to streamline approvals and reduce uncertainties.
2. Novel Food and Ingredient Regulation: The FDA is clarifying pathways for novel ingredients, especially those derived from new sources, genetic engineering, or innovative processing methods. While not explicitly called "Novel Food" as in Europe, FDA's guidance on new dietary ingredients (NDIs) serves a similar purpose.
3. Labelling and Transparency: The FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative emphasises clearer labelling, including for added sugars, allergens, and ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The agency is also exploring digital QR code labelling to provide consumers with comprehensive product information.
2. The U.S. Farm Bill and Ingredient Regulations
The 2018 Farm Bill and subsequent legislative actions influence ingredient regulations, especially concerning hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD. The FDA is scrutinising these ingredients' safety and labelling, with ongoing discussions about their lawful inclusion in foods.
3. Ingredient Safety and Sustainability
The FDA is increasingly considering environmental sustainability in ingredient regulation, including the impact of sourcing practices. This aligns with broader public health goals and consumer demand for responsibly produced ingredients.
# Regulatory Framework in Europe
1. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
EFSA plays a central role in assessing the safety of food ingredients in Europe, providing scientific opinions that underpin EU legislation.
- Novel Food Regulation: The EU's Novel Food Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) governs ingredients not significantly consumed within the EU before 1997. Recent updates include stricter safety assessments and more transparent approval procedures. The approval of ingredients like insect proteins and algae reflects Europe's openness to sustainable sources.
- Additives and Food Colours: EFSA periodically reviews permitted food additives, setting acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels. Recent assessments have focused on reducing potential health risks, including evaluations of synthetic and natural colourings.
- Plant-based and Botanical Ingredients: As consumer interest in plant-based diets grows, EFSA has been rigorously evaluating botanical ingredients for safety. Some herbs and plant extracts have undergone re-evaluation regarding their allergenic potential and contaminant levels.
2. EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy and Sustainability Goals
The European Green Deal, including the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, influences ingredient regulation by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, reducing reliance on pesticides, and encouraging plant-based ingredients. These policies impact sourcing standards and may lead to restrictions on certain agrochemicals in ingredient production.
3. Labelling and Consumer Transparency
The EU mandates detailed labelling for allergens, origin, and processing methods. Recent amendments aim to improve clarity around genetically modified ingredients, allergen labelling, and nutrition information, aligning with EFSA's safety assessments.
# Key Trends and Future Directions
1. Emphasis on Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Both jurisdictions are integrating sustainability into regulatory frameworks. In USA, this is evident through discussions about eco-labelling and responsible sourcing. Europe’s policies explicitly promote plant-based ingredients and eco-friendly production.
2. Increasing Use of Technology in Regulation Digital tools, such as blockchain for traceability and QR codes for consumer information, are being adopted to enhance transparency and safety.
3. Growing Focus on Novel Ingredients Ingredients like cultivated meat, insect proteins, and fermented foods are subject to evolving guidelines, with regulators balancing innovation and safety.
4. Harmonisation and International Cooperation Global efforts aim to harmonise standards, facilitating trade and ensuring consumer safety. Both USA and Europe participate in international forums such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission to align ingredient safety standards.
In India, few changes are noted in the regulatory space. Key changes include replacing "nutritive sweeteners" with "sweeteners" in synthetic syrups for carbonated water and removing the minimum total soluble solid content requirement. For culinary pastes and sauces, acidity limits are no longer applicable for retort/aseptically processed products. India’s food safety landscape just got a fresh update! The FSSAI’s new 2025 regulations introduce stronger rules for packaging, labelling, and transparency, covering recycled plastics, clear expiry dates, meaningful nutrition labels, and honest claims.
# Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges:
- Navigating rapidly advancing biotechnology and novel ingredients.
- Managing conflicting interests between industry innovation and safety concerns.
- Ensuring consumer understanding and trust amid complex labelling.
Opportunities:
- Innovating with sustainable, clean-label ingredients.
- Leveraging technology to improve transparency.
- Collaborating internationally for harmonised standards.
# Conclusion
Regulatory developments in USA and Europe on food ingredients reflect a shared commitment to safeguarding public health, promoting sustainability, and embracing innovation. As the focus on sustainable life practices grows, the regulations will get green and cast milder stress on the planet and environment we live in.
(The author is consultant – risk management. He can be reached at chemistryinnovations@gmail.com)
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