This is the third application made by the company, Unilever, for this novel food ingredient in the European Union. Two of these applications, including this one, were made in the UK.

Following an application for margarines with added phytosterol esters, which was approved in 2000, Unilever submitted an application via the UK to extend use to 'milk type' and 'yoghurt type' products. This use was authorised in 2004.

This third application is to extend the use in margarines to include cooking and baking which were not covered in the original authorisation. The applicant is also seeking to extend the use to liquid vegetable fat-based emulsions (liquid margarine products) which are used for cooking and baking.

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997.

Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), an independent committee of scientists appointed by the FSA.

The Food Standards Agency is inviting comments on the ACNFP’s draft opinion. Any comments should be emailed to the ACNFP secretariat at acnfp@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 28 February 2014.