EU approves natural antioxidant
Recent EU approval of rosemary extracts as safe, effective food preservatives will encourage many more food manufacturers to include the natural antioxidant in their products, predicts Danisco.
“Although research has long since documented the antioxidant properties of our Guardian Rosemary Extract, the European Commission’s recent publication of new directives marks the first legal recognition of the benefits in the EU,” explains Jørgen Sørensen, global business director for Danisco’s natural extracts. “Rosemary is a popular herb with a highly positive image among consumers. This is a major competitive advantage for food manufacturers who choose to use rosemary extract to preserve their products’ high quality.”
Guardian Rosemary Extract is particularly effective is it contains a high content of phenolic diterpenes, adds Sørensen. “Measured using a leading quantification technique developed in-house at Danisco, this is the active component that delays lipid oxidation and maintains the high sensory and nutritional quality of numerous food applications over a longer period.”
The applications specified by the EU directives include fats and oils, bakery products, meats, dehydrated soups and potatoes, and nutritional supplements such as fish oils. The directives additionally clarify that ‘dietary exposure resulting from the proposed uses and use levels were of no safety concern’, confirming EFSA’s scientific opinion of rosemary extract safety, issued in March 2008.
