AIDP’s non-GMO corncob XOS prebiotic, which is manufactured by LongLive and sold in North America under the trademark PreticX, has been approved as a Novel Food (NF) for food use in Europe by EFSA. This new designation allows XOS to be used in Europe and benefits AIDP’s customers who have international brands. PreticX had previously achieved FDA GRAS status.
 
Following an application by Longlive Europe Food Division Ltd, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on a mixture of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) as a novel food (NF), pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. 
 
The NF is obtained from corncobs—(Zea mays subsp. mays) via enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis and subsequent purification. The main components of the NF, the oligosaccharides, are resistant to human digestive enzymes and are fermented by colonic bacteria. The intention is to add the NF to a variety of foods such as bakery and dairy products, fruit jelly, chocolates, and soy-drinks.
 
The information provided on composition, specifications, production process, and stability of the NF does not raise safety concerns. There were effects observed in animal studies with the NF, or with other XOS, which were considered by the panel to be expected from the intake of non-digestible carbohydrates.
 
The panel concluded that the NF, a mixture of XOS, is safe under the proposed uses and use levels. The target population is the general population.
 
“We are excited by the approval of our corncob based XOS for food use in Europe, as this allows PreticX XOS-containing foods and supplements to be marketed internationally by our customers,” said Mark Thurston, president of AIDP.