Clasado Biosciences has welcomed another step forward in the advancement of prebiotics into foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) in the EU.
Following a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) earlier this year, the European Commission which oversees the Union list of Novel Foods has now updated the entry for galactooligosaccharides (GOS) with the addition of FSMPs.
The amendment emphasises the potential of prebiotic GOS, which nourishes beneficial bacteria of the gut microbiome in specialist foods that may support impaired gastrointestinal issues in hospitalised patients.
We are uncovering how beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome can influence or support key areas of physical and mental health
Lucie Nagy, General Counsel at Clasado, comments on the significance: “We often speak about how rapidly the prebiotic market is expanding, but it can be difficult to picture what that looks like in practice. While consumers around the globe are better understanding the importance of gut health, the extensive scientific backing of prebiotic GOS could well point towards the future of health interventions.
“The prebiotic category, whilst relatively new, shows extraordinary potential. The amendment of the GOS entry in the Union List of Novel Foods to include Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) unlocks more possibilities for nutrition-based healthcare product formulators. A distinguished example includes our own prebiotic galactooligosaccharides ingredient, Bimuno GOS. The most studied ingredient of its kind, it is supported by over 100 scientific publications, including more than 20 clinical trials.”
Lucien Harthoorn, Research & Development Director at Clasado added: “We are progressing health conversations on nutrition, and in particular, the important role of the gut microbiome. We are uncovering how beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome can influence or support key areas of physical and mental health. This puts prebiotics at the top of the agenda, and with the incredible stability and versatility that they bring to new product development, we look forward to seeing the new innovative solutions that come about following this exciting update.”
