EFSA Journal (Jul 2020)

Safety of rapeseed powder from Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L. as a Novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

  • EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA),
  • Dominique Turck,
  • Jacqueline Castenmiller,
  • Stefaan De Henauw,
  • Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst,
  • John Kearney,
  • Alexandre Maciuk,
  • Inge Mangelsdorf,
  • Harry J McArdle,
  • Androniki Naska,
  • Carmen Pelaez,
  • Kristina Pentieva,
  • Alfonso Siani,
  • Frank Thies,
  • Sophia Tsabouri,
  • Marco Vinceti,
  • Francesco Cubadda,
  • Karl Heinz Engel,
  • Thomas Frenzel,
  • Rosangela Marchelli,
  • Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold,
  • Morten Poulsen,
  • Josef Rudolf Schlatter,
  • Henk vanLoveren,
  • Antonio Fernandez Dumont,
  • Helle Katrine Knutsen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6197
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 7
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of rapeseed powder from Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L. as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Rapeseed powder will be produced from the seeds of non‐genetically modified double low (00) cultivars that are varieties with a low content of erucic acid and reduced content of glucosinolates compared to older varieties. The applicant developed a production process designed to further reduce the content of glucosinolates and other undesirable compounds such as phytates. The NF will be used as a food ingredient added to a number of food products. The target population is the general population from 1 year of age. The maximum estimated intake of the NF is 18–21 g/day in adolescents, adults and elderly (corresponding to 0.35, 0.23 and 0.25 g/kg body weight (bw) per day, respectively). The levels of undesirable compounds in this NF, such as erucic acid, glucosinolates and phytates, are below levels which would raise concerns. The EFSA NDA Panel has previously assessed the safety of similar products for human consumption and there is extensive experience on the use of rapeseed in animal feed. The applicant provided a human study on the safety and tolerability of the NF and no safety concerns were identified. The Panel considers that the NF, i.e. rapeseed powder from Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L., is safe at the proposed conditions of use.

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