Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

In an environment where food regulations change rapidly, up-to-date information is essential in order to have a clear understanding of how products can reach the marketplace.  This is the focus of Professor Patrick Wall and his team at UCD, who are reviewing the global regulatory environments in which foods making health claims need to operate.  They are addressing requirements relating to the safety of new ingredients, which could influence their approval, in addition to reviewing  claims already permitted and their conditions/restrictions of use.  By closely following EFSA's evaluations, they will appy the findings to the development of ingredients at FHI.  They are  also measuring consumer perceptions, expectations and demands for functional foods, which will help to ensure that the types of foods developed will be both desirable and successful.