Dihydrocapsiate (DHC): 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:

• Cereal bars: 9 mg/100 g
• Biscuits, cookies and crackers: 9 mg/100 g
• Rice based snacks: 12 mg/100 g
• Carbonated drinks, dilutable drinks, fruit juice based beverages: 1,5 mg/100 ml
• Vegetable drinks: 2 mg/100 ml
• Coffee based drinks, tea based drinks: 1,5 mg/100 ml
• Flavoured water - still: 1 mg/100 ml
• Precooked oatmeal cereal: 2,5 mg/100 g
• Other cereals: 4,5 mg/100 g
• Ice cream, dairy desserts: 4 mg/100 g
• Pudding mixes (ready to eat): 2 mg/100 g
• Products based on yoghurt: 2 mg/100 g
• Chocolate confectionery: 7,5 mg/100 g
• Hard candy: 27 mg/100 g
• Sugar-free gum: 115 mg/100 g
• Whitener/creamer: 40 mg/100 g
• Sweeteners: 200 mg/100 g
• Soup (ready to eat): 1,1 mg/100 g
• Salad dressing: 16 mg/100 g
• Vegetable protein: 5 mg/100 g
• Ready to eat meals: 3 mg/meal
• Meal replacements for weight control: 3 mg/meal
• Meal replacement for weight control (as drinks): 1 mg/100 ml
• Food Supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC: 3 mg/single intake 9 mg/day
• Non-alcoholic powdered drink mixes: 14,5 mg/kg equivalent to 1,5 mg/100 ml

Additional specific labelling requirements

1. The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Dihydrocapsiate’ 2. Food supplements containing synthetic dihydrocapsiate will be labelled as ‘not intended for children up to 4.5 years’

Specification (Table 2)

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

Description/Definition:

Dihydrocapsiate is synthesised by enzyme-catalysed esterification of vanillyl alcohol and 8-methylnonanoic acid. Following the esterification dihydrocapsiate is extracted with n-hexane.

Viscous to colourless to yellow liquid

Chemical formula: C18 H28 O4

CAS No: 205687-03-2

Physical-chemical properties:

Dihydrocapsiate: > 94 %

8-Methylnonanoic acid: < 6,0 %

Vanillyl acohol: < 1,0 %

Other synthesis related substances: < 2,0 %

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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