Fucoidan extract from the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus: 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:

• Foods including food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC for the general population: 250 mg/day

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Fucoidan extract from seaweed Fucus vesiculosus’.

Specification (Table 2)

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

Description/Definition:

Fucoidan from the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus is extracted using aqueous extraction in acidic solution and filtration processes without the use of organic solvents. The resulting extract is concentrated and dried to yield the fucoidan extract with the following specifications:

Off-white to brown powder

Odour and Taste: Bland odour and taste

Moisture: < 10 % (105 °C for 2 hours)

pH value: 4,0-7,0 (1 % suspension at 25 °C)

Heavy metals:

Arsenic (inorganic): < 1,0 ppm

Cadmium: < 3,0 ppm

Lead: < 2,0 ppm

Mercury: < 1,0 ppmMicrobiological criteria:

Total aerobic microbial count: < 10 000 CFU/g

Yeast and mould count: < 100 CFU/g

Total enterobacteria count: Absence/g

Escherichia coli: Absence/g

Salmonella: Absence/10 g

Staphylococcus aureus: Absence/g

Composition of the two permitted types of extracts, based on the level of fucoidan:

Extract 1:

Fucoidan: 75-95 %

Alginate: 2,0-5,5 %

Polyphloroglucinol: 0,5-15 %

Mannitol: 1-5 %

Natural salts/Free Minerals: 0,5-2,5 %

Other carbohydrates: 0,5-1,0 %

Protein: 2,0-2,5 %

Extract 2:

Fucoidan: 60-65 %

Alginate: 3,0-6,0 %

Polyphloroglucinol: 20-30 %

Mannitol: < 1,0 %

Natural salts/Free Minerals: 0,5-2,0 %

Other carbohydrates: 0,5-2,0 %

Protein: 2,0-2,5 %

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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