EFSA Reconfirms Sucralose Safety for Authorised Uses; Industry Eyes Berberine, HCA Reviews
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) affirmed sucralose's safety within current authorisation limits, while announcing upcoming stakeholder meetings for berberine and hydroxycitric acid (HCA) plant preparations.
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London, United Kingdom — 18 March 2026
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reiterated that sucralose (E 955) remains safe for consumers when used within its currently authorised food additive applications. This position, outlined within EFSA's broader safety assessments, indicates that brand owners utilising sucralose at established levels face no imminent regulatory pressure to reformulate. However, any industry ambition to extend sucralose's use beyond these defined parameters would necessitate new safety data submissions, representing a significant investment in toxicological studies and regulatory affairs.
In parallel, EFSA has scheduled targeted stakeholder meetings in April 2026 for key botanical ingredients. A session on 22 April will focus on plant preparations containing berberine, an alkaloid with growing interest in the supplement sector. The following day, 23 April, will address hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and its plant preparations. These meetings are critical for manufacturers and brand owners, as EFSA's forthcoming opinions on these compounds could dictate allowable dosages, permitted claims, or even market status within the EU, directly influencing product portfolios and market strategies.
Further, EFSA is hosting an information session on 15 April 2026 regarding updated Food Additive Guidance. This event is crucial for regulatory and R&D teams to understand evolving requirements for additive submissions, ensuring compliance and potentially streamlining future approval processes. Manufacturers must update their internal compliance protocols in line with any new guidance to avoid delays or rejections for novel product development.
What this means for the United Kingdom
UK supplement manufacturers and brand owners should closely monitor EFSA's activity, especially on berberine and HCA. While the UK operates under its own regulatory framework (MHRA/FSA), EFSA’s scientific opinions frequently inform UK standards and market decisions. A negative EFSA opinion on berberine or HCA could prompt similar scrutiny from UK regulators, potentially impacting products already on the market or in development. Proactive engagement with relevant trade associations and early assessment of product exposure to these ingredients are advised to mitigate future compliance risks or reformulation costs. The sucralose affirmation provides stability for existing formulations, but new uses will face rigorous UK Novel Food or additive assessment.
EFSA's commitment to ensuring innovation coexists with the highest safety standards is evident through its ongoing memorandum of understanding with the FAO and its new 'Strategy 2027 – Science, safe food, sustainability'. This strategic direction signals a continued emphasis on robust scientific assessment, which industry players must integrate into their product development lifecycles to ensure long-term market viability.
This trend is being actively addressed by UK manufacturing partners including Supplement Factory.