Nano Foods, Novel Foods, and Functional Foods

Nanotechnology in the Food Sector

Nanotechnology is "the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules" according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The UK Royal Society recommended that nanomaterials be regulated as new chemicals and that research laboratories and factories treat nanomaterials "as if they were hazardous" and that products containing nanomaterials be subject to new safety testing requirements prior to their commercial release.

Nanotechnology is applied in the production, processing, safety and packaging of food. A nanocomposite coating process could improve food packaging by placing anti-microbial agents directly on the surface of the coated film. Nanocomposites could increase or decrease gas permeability of different fillers as is needed for different products. They can also improve the mechanical and heat-resistance properties and lower the oxygen transmission rate. Research is being performed to apply nanotechnology to the detection of chemical and biological substances for sensing biochemical changes in foods.

For more information, see our article: Nano Foods - The Silent Revolution?
If these issues affect you, Creme Nano Foods can help.

Novel Foods

In Europe novel foods are considered foods that up to present have not been used in significant quantities. Foods that were already known in other cultures, but only now have reached the European market (such as kiwi fruit many years ago) are also included. Novel food encompasses food that is transgenic (i.e. has been genetically modified or genetically engineered) as well as food derived from biotechnology and cholesterol-lowering food. It loses its novel character once it has been accepted. This trait sets novel food apart from functional food.

Functional Foods

Functional food is food modified, developed or treated in order to provide a positive (health) effect on the body beyond the traditional nutritional value and food that improves the traditional nutritional characteristics.

Novel food includes food and food ingredients

consisting or produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
that have a deliberately modified primary molecular structure
consisting of or produced by micro-organisms, fungi or algae
consisting of or produced from plants or derived from animals (excluding food obtained by means of traditional propagation or breeding methods with a history of safe use
produced with non-conventional means, if these means change the composition and structure of the food or its ingredients and if they influence the nutritional value or metabolism.

More information on the European Novel Foods Regulation

How Creme can help

In order to regulate novel or functional foods, it is important to understand the exposure levels of the population. With Creme Nano Foods you can calculate exposure levels of key demographics accurately and efficiently. Our tool includes the option of scenario analysis to estimate how the situation may change over time.

In order for health claims to be made for functional ingredients, it is important that the consumer receives an adequate dose to have the desired effect. Stand over your claims using the validated scientific models in Creme Nano Foods.

See how other organisations have used Creme Nano Foods when conducting research on novel foods: