Nannochloropsis gaditana approved as Novel Food in China

This month it has been announced that in accordance with the Food Safety Act, China has approved the microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana for use in foods with a limit of 2 grams per day on a dry weight basis.  N. gaditana is a naturally occurring photoautotrophic alga found in the oceans, which serves as a critical food source to marine life and produces oxygen while consuming CO2 – a greenhouse gas.  N. gaditana can be sustainably farmed and is a rich vegetarian source of fatty acids, proteins, and certain vitamins.  Among these fatty acids is eicosapentaenoic acid, the essential Omega-3 nutrient commonly referred to as EPA.  N. gaditana is a rich vegetarian and vegan source of EPA.

Included in the announcement is the advisement that to be qualified for food use, N. gaditana must be produced in accordance with the provisions of the National Standards for Food Safety for Food Grade Algae and is not approved for consumption by infants, pregnant or lactating women.

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