EFSA Journal (Jun 2018)

Evaluation of di‐magnesium malate, used as a novel food ingredient and as a source of magnesium in foods for the general population, food supplements, total diet replacement for weight control and food for special medical purposes

  • EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS),
  • Maged Younes,
  • Peter Aggett,
  • Fernando Aguilar,
  • Riccardo Crebelli,
  • Birgit Dusemund,
  • Metka Filipič,
  • Maria Jose Frutos,
  • Pierre Galtier,
  • Ursula Gundert‐Remy,
  • Gunter Georg Kuhnle,
  • Claude Lambré,
  • Jean‐Charles Leblanc,
  • Inger Therese Lillegaard,
  • Peter Moldeus,
  • Alicja Mortensen,
  • Agneta Oskarsson,
  • Ivan Stankovic,
  • Ine Waalkens‐Berendsen,
  • Rudolf Antonius Woutersen,
  • Matthew Wright,
  • Harry McArdle,
  • Paul Tobback,
  • Fabiola Pizzo,
  • Ana Rincon,
  • Camilla Smeraldi,
  • David Gott

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5292
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 6
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

Read online

Abstract The present scientific opinion deals with the evaluation of the safety of di‐magnesium malate (DMM) proposed as a novel food ingredient and as a source of magnesium for use in foods for the general population, food supplements, total diet replacement for weight control and food for special medical purposes (FSMP), and with the bioavailability of magnesium from this source. Additional information was sought from the applicant during the assessment process. However, despite several requests, the applicant did not provide the additional data. Consequently, the Panel performed this assessment on the basis of the available data and concluded that there was insufficient scientific evidence of a difference between the proposed novel food ingredient named as DMM and magnesium malate already authorised as a source of magnesium included in Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC. Accordingly, the Panel was unable to assess the safety of DMM as a novel food ingredient. The Panel concluded that based on the data provided it was not possible to assess the dissociation of DMM into magnesium and malic acid. The Panel further concluded that if DMM dissociates, magnesium would be available following ingestion of DMM and the availability would appear similar to values reported for other sources of magnesium already permitted. Finally, the Panel noted that the proposed use levels could result in exposures to magnesium greater than its upper level (UL) (250 mg/day) for food supplements and for food for special medical purposes.

Keywords