EU Amends Novel Food Conditions of Use for Galacto-Oligosaccharide (GOS) in dairy-based desserts, frozen dairy desserts, bars, cereals, food supplement.

The European Commission has amended the Union list of authorised novel foods under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, expanding the permitted uses of galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS). The amendment authorises GOS in additional food categories, including drink bases and concentrates, chocolate and other confectionery products, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juice concentrates, whey-based powders, protein products, coffee-based drinks, milk-based drinks, and cocoa-based beverages. To improve regulatory consistency, the Regulation: Aligns food category descriptions with Directives 2001/112/EC (fruit juices) and 2001/113/EC (jams, jellies, and marmalades). Replaces “milk drinks” with “milk-based drinks” in line with Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. Merges certain categories, including dairy-based desserts, frozen dairy desserts, bars, and cereals. Aligns infant and young-child food categories with Regulation (EU) No 609/2013. Food Supplements excluding infants and young children: 0.450 kg galacto-oligosaccharide per kg of food supplement (45.0%).This corresponds to 5.4 g of galacto-oligosaccharide per serving, up to a maximum of 3 servings per day (16.2 g/day maximum) The amendment also separates the existing category covering fruit drinks and energy drinks into two distinct categories for greater regulatory clarity.