Emerging Perspectives on Functional Foods: Superfood and Novel Food
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v14i1.317-324.8448Keywords:
Functional Food, Superfood, Novel Food, Innovative FoodAbstract
Population growth, the rising burden of chronic diseases and climate crisis are increasing the demand for healthy and nutritious foods. Nutrients and bioactive compounds in functional foods have increased consumer interest in healthier dietary options, contributing to the rapid expansion of the functional food market. In this context, the terms “superfoods” and “novel foods” often discussed in relation to the functional foods, are frequently conflated. “Superfood” lacks a standardized definition in the scientific literature and is commonly used as a marketing label, whereas “novel food” is a regulatory category whose legal framework varies by country or region and generally covers foods derived from new sources or produced using new technologies. This traditional review aims to define and clarify the conceptual boundaries of superfoods and novel foods, explain the distinction between them, and comparatively summarize regulatory approaches using selected examples, particularly the European Union and Türkiye as well as the United States and Canada. Within the proposed conceptual framework, authorization and assessment processes related to these concepts are compared across these settings in terms of key regulatory practices.
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