EFSA deems chromium picolinate safe for use in foods in EU

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved the use of chromium picolinate in foodstuffs after performing a safety assessment.

If the opinion is accepted the ingredient could enter the food supply as early as next year. It is already approved for use in food supplements in the 27-member EU bloc.

The review applies to functional foods and medical foods.

James Komorowski, vice president, research and development at Nutrition 21, which applied for the safety review, commented: “The safety review was extensive and included a review of Nutrition 21’s safety data on Chromax chromium picolinate, our manufacturing and product specifications, and the long-term, high-dose, toxicity studies independently conducted by the US National Toxicology Program.”

The safety review included over 140 references.