Safety of 2'-O-fucosyllactose as a novel food ingredient pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97: (Scientific Opinion)

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleCommissionedpeer-review

  • EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on 2'-O-fucosyllactose as a novel food ingredient (NFI) submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council, taking into account the comments and objections of a scientific nature raised by Member States. 2'-O-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is a synthetic trisaccharide, which is intended to be used in infant and follow-on formulae, foods for special medical purposes for infants and young children, and other foods for infants and young children, as well as in foods or food supplements for adults. The information provided on the potential mutagenicity of 2'-FL does not raise safety concerns as regards the genotoxicity of this NFI. Based on the observations from a sub-chronic 90-day toxicity study in rats, the Panel considers that the no observed adverse effect level is 2 000 mg/kg body weight per day. The applicant provided a double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial on the effects of 2’-FL consumed in combination with another oligosaccharide (lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT)) in infants. The Panel concludes that 2’-FL is safe for infants (up to one year of age) when added to infant and follow-on formulae, in combination with LNnT, at concentrations up to 1.2 g/L of 2’-FL and up to 0.6 g/L of LNnT, at a ratio of 2:1 in the reconstituted formulae; is safe for young children (older than one year of age) when added to follow-on and young-child formulae, at concentrations up to 1.2 g/L of 2’-FL (alone or in combination with LNnT, at concentrations up to 0.6 g/L, at a ratio of 2:1). The Panel also concludes that 2’-FL is safe when added to other foods at the uses and use levels proposed by the applicant.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4184
JournalE F S A Journal
Volume13
Issue number7
Number of pages32
ISSN1831-4732
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

On request from the European Commission. Question No. EFSA-Q-2015-00052, adopted on 29 June 2015.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Science - 2'-O-fucosyllactose, 2'-FL, Synthetic oligosaccharide, Novel food ingredient, Safety

ID: 174467346