EC Novel Food Approval in Progress for Benexia Chia Oil

04 Mar 2014 --- Ingredia Nutritional is launching Chia Oil to the European market under its Benexia brand name, following the success of its Chia Seed concept. The oil, which will be introduced among other new products at Vitafoods Europe, is described as a ‘very promising new product’ because it is highly concentrated in Omega-3, making it ideal for the food and nutraceutical industry.

The company, in partnership with Functional Products Nutritional, has already made an application to the UK’s Food Standards Agency to place Chia oil on the market as a novel food ingredient.

Benexia Oil received a positive draft opinion on this application, according to Ingredia Nutritional. The company said it is now entering the final step of the process in waiting for the European Commission’s decision about approving the use of Chia oil as a novel food ingredient – a decision is expected to be made by the end of the first half of 2014.

According to Innova Market Insights data, launch numbers for food and drinks products containing grains such as quinoa, chia, buckwheat, hemp and amaranth, have been rising strongly in recent years. Ancient grains are continuing their return to consumers’ diets, reflecting rising levels of awareness of their nutritional properties, as well as the unique flavors that they can impart to a wide range of food and drinks products.

Chia is one of the upcoming ancient grains the data identified. Chia is a Latin American annual herb high in protein, dietary fiber and antioxidants, with a high concentration of omega 3 fatty acids in its oil. Although much less established than quinoa, it is showing a similar growth rate. Launches of products containing chia rose from probably single figures five years ago to in the hundreds now, with an increase of nearly 50% in the 12 months to the end of September 2013 alone. The US dominated activity, accounting for nearly half of the total introductions recorded. Launches ranged across a number of sectors, including soft drinks with Ahhmigo’s Chia & Water with chia fiber, omega 3 and protein to keep consumers “hydrated and satiated”; snacks with Lesser Evil’s Chia Crisps; and cereals with Nature’s Path Organic’s Qi’a “superfood” breakfast cereal made with a blend of chia, hemp and buckwheat.

“Ancient grains were once very popular basic food cereals, but faded away and became largely obsolete in many countries, with the rise of modern cereal crops, such as wheat and corn,” Lu Ann Williams, Director of Innovation at Innova Market Insights reports. “Interest in these alternative grain products perceived as traditional, natural and nutritious has become increasingly apparent,” she contends “and their use is extending out of the specialist health foods sector and into the mainstream, as well as out of cereal products and into the wider processed foods market.”