CFSA FAQ: What Are the Usage Scopes for the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Food?

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Recently, China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued a set of FAQs on “three new foods” and substances traditionally used as both food and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), covering a total of 25 questions.

In this article, CIRS Group compiles common strain-related issues concerning “three new foods.”

Q1: How is strain consistency determined?

A1: Currently, there are no standardized methods or criteria established by domestic or international institutions for determining strain consistency. Identification of strains requires a comprehensive assessment based on factors such as phenotype, genetic characteristics, and the strain’s origin. Various genetic identification methods are widely recognized in the scientific community, such as average nucleotide identity based on whole-genome sequencing, single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, and core gene multilocus sequence typing, all of which can be used for strain-level identification.

Q2: What are the usage scopes for the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Food and the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Infants and Young Children’s Food?

A2: The National Health Commission (NHC) Announcement No. 4 of 2022 has updated both the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Food and the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Infants and Young Children’s Food. Strains included in the former list are generally permitted for use in common foods, excluding infants and young children’s foods. Any specific usage restrictions outlined in the announcement must be followed and indicated on product labels and packaging. Strains on the latter list are approved for use in infants and young children’s foods, unless otherwise specified.

**Q3: What are the transition period regulations for the renaming of the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Food and the List of Strains that Can Be Used in Infants and Young Children’s Food?**

A3: According to the NHC Announcement No. 4 of 2022, a two-year transition period has been set for changes in strains classification and renaming. During this period, both old and new names may be used. Once the transition period ends, only the updated lists should be applied. Products manufactured during this period using the old names may continue to be sold until their expiration dates.

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