Naturex Welcomes Favorable EFSA Opinion on Thaumatin

23 Nov 2015 --- Talin, a natural extract from the fruit Thaumatococcus Danielli, is a multi-functional food additive (Thaumatin – E 957) that improves the taste profile of foods and beverages, masks off-tastes, enhances flavors, and improves the taste of sugar and salt replacers.

Last year, Naturex submitted an application to the European Commission to extend the use of Talin. On October 13, 2015, a Scientific Opinion was released by the EFSA in support of the safety of the requested extension.

This opens the door to a broad range of new applications, including:
- The extension of use in several food categories namely
o salt substitutes (to reduce their off-tastes),
o soups, sauces and snacks (to increase flavor perception and enable salt reduction),
o energy reduced breakfast cereals, jams and jellies (to increase the perceived sweetness when used in combination with other sweeteners),
o food supplements to mask the aftertaste or the bitterness of some actives
o alcoholic beverages to lift and rebalance the overall flavor
- An increase in the currently approved maximum use level (from 0.5 mg/L to 5 mg/L) in flavored drinks.
- The possibility to use Thaumatin as a food additive in food flavorings under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

The EFSA’s Scientific Opinion offers significant potential for the food and beverage category. Amandine de Santi, Food & Beverage Business Manager at Naturex, said: “As a leading actor in the Thaumatin category, Naturex is duty bound to contribute to the market’s development. We are pleased to be able to open discussions in order to move forward on this key issue.”