Novel Foods Application Made on 1-MNA

2 Oct 2013 --- A Polish company has applied to the Food Standards Agency to market 1-methylnicotinamide chloride (1-MNA) as a novel food ingredient. Views are wanted on the company's application. The deadline for comments is Monday 21 October 2013.

1-MNA is naturally formed in the human body during the metabolism of niacin (vitamin B3). The company, Pharmena SE, wants to include synthetic 1-MNA in food supplements to reduce risk factors related to the progression of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is disease that causes artery walls to thicken as a result of the build up of fatty acids. Claims for this use of 1-MNA will require approval under European Union (EU) nutrition and health claims legislation.

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the EU before 15 May 1997.

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).