Scientific Opinion on the safety of 'Chitin-glucan' as a Novel Food ingredient

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to carry out the additional assessment for ‘Chitin-glucan’ as a food ingredient in the context of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97. The Novel Food ingredient called “KiOnutrime-CG™” has a content of more than 90 % chitin-glucan, which is the main component in the cell walls of the mycelium of Aspergillus niger derived from a fermentation process. The compositional data and the manufacturing process do not give rise to concerns. The ingredient is intended to be marketed as a food supplement to increase the daily intake of fibre. The intended intake of chitin-glucan is 2 to 5 g/day. At the highest dose administered in a 13-week rat study, i.e. about 6.6 g/kg body weight (bw), no adverse effects were observed. This dose is approximately 80-fold higher than the maximum intended level of intake for humans on a g/kg bw basis. The Panel concludes that Novel Food KiOnutrime-CG™ is safe as a food ingredient at the proposed conditions of use and the proposed intake levels.