Chitosan extract from fungi (Agaricus bisporus; Aspergillus niger): authorised novel food in the EU

Conditions of use and maximum levels

Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:

• Food Supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC: In line with normal use in food supplements of chitosan from crustaceans

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Chitosan extract from Agaricus bisporus’ or ‘Chitosan extract from Aspergillus niger’

Specification (Table 2)

Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:

Description/Definition:

The chitosan extract (containing mainly poly(D-glucosamine)) is obtained from stems of Agaricus bisporus or from the mycelium of Aspergillus niger.

The patented production process consists of several steps, including: extraction and deacetylation (hydrolysis) in alkaline medium, solubilisation in acidic medium, precipitation in alkaline medium, washing and drying.

Synonym: Poly(D-glucosamine)

Chitosan CAS number: 9012-76-4

Chitosan formula: (C6H11NO4)n

Appearance: fine free-flowing powder

Aspect: Off -white to slightly brownish

Odour: Odourless

Purity:

Chitosan content (% w/w dry weight):≥ 85

Glucan content (% w/w dry weight): ≤ 15

Loss on drying (% w/w dry weight): ≤ 10

Viscosity (1 % in 1 % acetic acid): 1-15

Degree of acetylation (in % mol/wet weight): 0-30

Viscosity (1 % in 1 % acetic acid) (mPa.s): 1-14 for chitosan from Aspergillus niger; 12-25 for chitin from Agaricus bisporus

Ash (% w/w dry weight): ≤ 3,0

Proteins (% w/w dry weight): ≤ 2,0

Particle size: > 100 nm

Tapped density (g/cm3): 0,7-1,0

Fat binding capacity 800 × (w/w wet weight): passHeavy metals:

Mercury (ppm): ≤ 0,1

Lead (ppm): ≤ 1,0

Arsenic (ppm): ≤ 1,0

Cadmium (ppm): ≤ 0,5

Microbiological criteria:

Aerobic count (CFU/g): ≤ 103

Yeast and mould count (CFU/g): ≤ 103

Escherichia coli (CFU/g): ≤ 10

Enterobacteriaceae (CFU/g): ≤ 10

Salmonella: Absence/25g

Listeria monocytogenes: Absence/25g

Source and version

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods, Table 1. Consolidated text of 10 August 2026. The text above is copied from that document without change except that amendment markers are removed. It is not advice and it does not decide whether a particular product is covered.

• Consolidated text on EUR-Lex

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