Lycopene from tomatoes: authorised novel food in the EU
Lycopene from tomatoes is on the Union list of authorised novel foods (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470). Conditions of use and maximum levels by food category: 9 entries, quoted below.
- Regulation
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Table 1
- Listed as
- Lycopene from tomatoes
- Text version
- Consolidated text of 10 August 2026
- Version
- Consolidated text of 10 August 2026
- Official source
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods
Conditions of use and maximum levels
Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:
- Fruit/vegetable juice-based drinks (including concentrates): 2,5 mg/100 g
- Drinks intended to meet the expenditure of intense muscular effort especially for sportsmen: 2,5 mg/100 g
- Total diet replacement for weight control as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 and meal replacements for weight control: 8 mg/meal
- Breakfast cereals: 5 mg/100 g
- Fats and dressings: 10 mg/100 g
- Soups other than tomato soups: 1 mg/100 g
- Bread (including crispy breads): 3 mg/100 g
- Foods for special medical purposes as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013: In accordance with the particular nutritional requirements of the persons for whom the products are intended
- Food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC: 15 mg/day
Additional specific labelling requirements
The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Lycopene’
Specification (Table 2)
Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:
Description/Definition:
The purified lycopene from tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculantum L.) consists of ≥ 95 % lycopene and ≤ 5 % other carotenoids. It is presented either as a powder in a suitable matrix or an oily dispersion. The colour is dark red or red-violet. Anti-oxidative protection has to be assured.
Chemical name: Lycopene
CAS No.: 502-65-8 (all trans lycopene)
Chemical formula: C40H56
Formula weight: 536,85 Da
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.
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