EFSA Journal (Nov 2024)

Safety of Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) oil as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

  • EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA),
  • Dominique Turck,
  • Torsten Bohn,
  • Montaña Cámara,
  • Jacqueline Castenmiller,
  • Stefaan De Henauw,
  • Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst,
  • Ángeles Jos,
  • Alexandre Maciuk,
  • Inge Mangelsdorf,
  • Breige McNulty,
  • Androniki Naska,
  • Kristina Pentieva,
  • Alfonso Siani,
  • Frank Thies,
  • Margarita Aguilera‐Gómez,
  • Francesco Cubadda,
  • Thomas Frenzel,
  • Marina Heinonen,
  • Helle Katrine Knutsen,
  • Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold,
  • Morten Poulsen,
  • Miguel Prieto Maradona,
  • Josef Rudolf Schlatter,
  • Alexandros Siskos,
  • Henk vanLoveren,
  • Fernando Rivero‐Pino,
  • Ruth Roldán‐Torres,
  • Harry J. McArdle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9102
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 11
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 Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) oil as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Tiger nuts (C. esculentus) is an edible tuber with history of consumption as food. The NF is the oil obtained from the nuts through cold pressing of the seeds flour. Oleic acid is the major component, representing 65%–69% of the oil's total fatty acids. The applicant proposed to use the NF as an ingredient in several food categories, and as a cooking oil or added as a condiment. The Panel notes that there are no safety concerns regarding stability if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf‐life. Taking into consideration the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The Panel considers that, based on the production process, composition of the NF, history of use of and composition of the source, no toxicological studies are required on the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use.

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