6 NEW PRODUCT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Nanotech, healthy snacks and
targeted nutrition dominate R&D
S nanotechnology policy experts provide a level playing field and rules of the road
In the US, nanoscale food
are urging that food additives for industry developing new applications based
additives come under the that contain nanoscale materials on nanoscale materials.”
policy spotlight, while U
be subject to new safety testing to Congress created the GRAS concept to build
manufacturers worldwide
ensure that their use does not pose unintended some flexibility into the oversight system by
continue their focus on
risks. exempting additives that truly were considered
healthier snacks and
The call comes as nanotechnology emerges as safe from the pre-market approval requirement.
targeted nutrition.
Sean Ottewell reports.
a major regulatory challenge FDA and industry
facing the have used this
incoming Obama authority over
Aux États-Unis, les additifs administration. the years to avoid
alimentaires à la
It also takes place the food additive
nanoéchelle sont mis sur
amid debate approval process
la sellette au plan
over how to for well-tested
politique, tandis que les
restructure the substances whose
fabricants du monde
entier continuent à se
Food and Drug safety is recognised
concentrer sur des en-cas
Administration by experts.
plus sains et sur la
(FDA) and possibly “The time
nutrition ciblée. Un create a separate may come, when
reportage de
government food the body of
Sean Ottewell.
safety agency. scientific evidence
Policy experts demonstrating the
In den USA werden
at the Project safety of a nanoscale
Lebensmittelzusätze
on Emerging food additive is
im Nanomaßstab
Nanotechnologies sufficient to meet
unter die Lupe der (PEN) urge the the GRAS standard.
Aufsichtsbehörden FDA to issue But the science is not
genommen, während
guidance on how close to meeting that
sich Hersteller weltweit
existing listings level of confidence
weiterhin auf gesündere
for food additives now,” says Andrew
Snacks und gezielte
and ‘generally Maynard, chief
Ernährung konzentrieren.
Sean Ottewell berichtet.
recognised as safe’ science advisor
(GRAS) substances for PEN.
apply to nanoscale The worldwide
materials. nanotechnology
This, say the
Fig. 1. The new crackers meet customer demands for
food market is
experts, would
crunchiness and low calorie content.
estimated to grow
help increase to over US$20
consumer confidence and private-sector billion by 2010. An inventory that includes
investment in new technologies. 84 consumer products in the food and beverage
According to companies that use nanoscale sector which are currently available
materials in foods, the technology can be used to to consumers and which manufacturers claim
improve food taste, quality, and safety. are nanotechnology, can be found at
“Failure by FDA to issue any guidance for www.nanotechproject.org/consumerproducts.
nano food-additives leaves the door open to
manufacturers to make their own judgments
New products target healthy diets
and enter the market without FDA clearance, Meanwhile, meeting the demands of customers
despite having a material with novel properties,” for healthy, low-calorie snacks remains a priority
says PEN director David Rejeski. “Clear FDA for manufacturers.
guidance for nanoscale food-additives combined For example, research in the USA has shown
with a pre-market safety evaluation would that nine out of 10 women there crave snacks
www.scientistlive.com
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