EU Assesses the Safety of Glucosyl Hesperidin as a Novel Food

On August 8, 2024, we received important news from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whose EU Research Group on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). A scientific opinion on the safety of glucosyl hesperidin as a novel food has been published.

After a rigorous evaluation, the expert panel finally reached a clear conclusion: under the proposed conditions of use, glucosyl hesperidin is absolutely safe as a novel food. Further understanding, we found that glucose-hesperidin is a powder produced by the enzymatic reaction of hesperidin and dextrin, and its main components include monoglucose-hesperidin and unreacted hesperidin (flavonoid), with a total content of up to 92.8%.

The petitioners recommended that the new food be used in certain beverages and food supplements, and specified a maximum daily intake of 364 mg for adults. In this regard, the Panel is of the view that under the recommended conditions of use, consumption of glucosyl hesperidin will not have any adverse effect on nutritional status. At the same time, the new food did not raise any concerns about DNA damage.

Based on a 90-day oral toxicity test conducted, the panel established the NOAEL, which is approximately 1,000 mg per kilogram of body weight. After applying a 200-fold uncertainty factor, the safe intake for humans was determined to be 5 mg per kilogram of body weight. In addition, clinical trials have not found that glucose-hesperidin/monoglucose-hesperidin at a supplement dose of 3 g/day causes significant changes in relevant blood or biochemical parameters.

The panel concluded that under the recommended conditions of use, the novel food glucosyl hesperidin is safe and can be used with confidence.