Press Release: EFSA assesses safety of lycopene in foods

The European Food Safety Authority's Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC), on 14 April 2008, delivered a scientific opinion on the safety in use of synthetic lycopene as a food colour for use in certain food categories. This opinion will help inform ongoing evaluations by EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), expected to be adopted in Spring 2008, concerning the use of lycopene as a novel food ingredient.