Food Standards Agency and Goji Berries

In early 2007, Food Standards Agency asked retailers of goji berries to provide evidence to show that goji berries had been significantly consumed in European Community before May 1997. It meant that if no substantial evidence could be found goji berries would be banned for sale in European Community.

Following that many organizations and retailers had actively responded to this call. As a result Food Standards Agency carefully reviewed responses following its call for evidence. Then they indicated there is sufficient evidence to indicate that goji berries were being consumed to a significant degree in the UK before May 1997. This means that the requirements of the novel food regulations do not apply to this product and goji berries can continue to be sold without the need for authorisation.

In the European Union, a food is regarded to be novel if it was not consumed in considerable amount in EU before 1997. According to the European law, novel foods must be shown to meet three criteria before they be marketed: they must not be unsafe, their labelling must not be misleading and their nutritional quality must not be inferior to other similar foods that they could replace.

The conclusion of FSA indicates it is safe for European people to consume goji berries.