Australia/New Zealand Council Approves Plant Sterol Esters As Novel Food Ingredient

The Foods Standards Ministerial Council of Australia and New Zealand has approved the use of vegetable oil-derived plant sterol esters as a novel food ingredient in edible oil spreads (margarines). The Ministerial Council accepted the advice of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) that plant sterol esters should be allowed in edible oil spreads and that the product must carry an advisory statement. The advisory statement will recommend that these products are not appropriate for infants, children and pregnant and lactating women and that people using cholesterol-reducing medication should seek medical advice before using the spreads.

In more recent developments, ANZFA has cited a lack of evidence concerning the safety of eating increased amounts of plant sterols, prompting the organization to ban the sale of all yogurt, milk, cereal bars and mayonnaise products containing the ingredients.