ACNFP Secretariat
Food Standards Agency
Room 515b Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7276 8595
Fax: +44 (0)20 7276 8564
acnfp@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
July 2009: Application from William Wrigley Jr. Company for the authorisation of magnolia bark extract under the Novel Food Regulation (EC) 258/97. Under evaluation.
The magnolia bark extract (MBSE) is obtained from the bark of the plant Magnoliae officinalis. This plant is native to the mountains of China and has been used for centuries as part of traditional Asian remedies. The applicant intends to incorporate MBSE into two confectionary products (chewing gum and a limited number of mint confectionery products) at a maximum use level of 0.2% for its perceived breath freshening properties.
Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market, it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).
Any comments on this application should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 01 February 2010 and will be passed to the Committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food ingredient.
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