EU Authorises Rhizomucor pusillus Mycelium as a Novel Food in food and supplements.

The European Commission has adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1507, authorising Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium as a novel food and adding it to the Union list of authorised novel foods under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. The Regulation enters into force on 26 July 2026. Produced through fermentation and processed into a protein- and fibre-rich powder, the novel food is authorised for use in a range of food categories, including cereal bars, breakfast cereals, cereal-, fruit- and vegetable-based snacks, dairy analogues, flatbreads, cocoa-based spreads, chocolate confectionery, biscuits and non-alcoholic beverages. Maximum use levels range from 10 g/100 g to 35 g/100 g, depending on the food category. The novel food is also authorised for use in meal replacements for weight control (as drinks) for adults at a maximum intake of 40 g/day, corresponding to no more than two meal replacements per day. For food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC, the novel food is authorised for the general adult population, excluding pregnant and lactating women, with a maximum daily intake of 6 g/day. Products containing the ingredient must be labelled as “Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium”. Food supplements containing the novel food must also bear a statement indicating that they should not be consumed by persons under 18 years of age, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. The authorisation is supported by proprietary scientific data submitted by The Protein Brewery B.V.. Accordingly, the company has been granted five years of data protection, giving it exclusive rights to place the novel food on the EU market until 26 July 2031, unless a subsequent applicant obtains authorisation based on independently generated data.