Why the ACNF found seawater to be a prohibited novel food: Lessons for businesses looking to make any ACNF submission

In December 2023, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods (ACNF) expressed the opinion that seawater was a non-traditional and novel food. However, the ACNF also expressed the opinion that the novel status of seawater could be managed through a food safety plan that adequately ensures safety and public health. This article explores the process of novel food assessment procedures, how that was applied in this assessment, the application of seawater in food and the implications of food safety plans facilitating a novel food exception. FoodLegal has handled numerous ACNF submissions and scientific literature reviews.