Commission authorizes the use of iron caseinate as a source of iron specifically in foods for special medical purposes

With implementing Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2791 of 29 January 2024, the Commission amending the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council to allow the use of iron milk caseinate as a source of iron in total diet replacement for weight control and in food for special medical purposes, excluding food for infants and young children.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/949 (2) authorised the use of iron milk caseinate as a novel food in, among other products, food for special medical purposes, excluding food for infants and young children and total diet replacement for weight control, subject to certain conditions.

During the process of authorisation, on 4 August 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) issued a scientific opinion  where it concluded that iron milk caseinate is safe under the proposed conditions of use and that it is a source from which iron is bioavailable.

The Commission considers that the Authority’s opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that iron milk caseinate, as authorised by Regulation (EU) 2023/949, is not of safety concern as a source of iron when used in food for special medical purposes, excluding food for infants and young children and in total diet replacement for weight control. Therefore, it is appropriate to allow the use of iron milk caseinate as a source of iron in food for special medical purposes, excluding food for infants and young children and in total diet replacement for weight control.

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