Mycelial extract from Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes): 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:

• Bread products: 2 ml/100 g
• Soft drinks: 0,5 ml/100 ml
• Ready prepared meals: 2,5 ml per meal
• Foods based on yoghurt: 1,5 ml/100 ml
• Food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC: 2,5 ml per day dose

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘extract from the mushroom Lentinula edodes’ or ‘extract from Shiitake mushroom’

Specification (Table 2)

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

Description/Definition:

The novel food ingredient is a sterile aqueous extract obtained from the mycelium of Lentinula edodes cultivated in a submerged fermentation. It is a light brown, slightly turbid liquid.

Lentinan is a β-(1-3) β-(1-6)-D-glucan which has a molecular weight of approximately 5 × 105 Daltons, a degree of branching of 2/5 and a triple helical tertiary structure.

Purity/Composition of the mycelial extract from Lentinula edodes:

Moisture: 98 %

Dry matter: 2 %

Free glucose: < 20 mg/ml

Total protein(1): < 0,1 mg/ml

N-containing constituents(2): < 10 mg/ml

Lentinan: 0,8 - 1,2 mg/ml\

(1) Bradford method

(2) Kjeldahl method

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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