EFSA gave the green light to hydrothermally treated kernels from an edible cultivar of Jatropha curcas L. (Chuta) as a novel food. The Novel Food is to be marketed in the form of the whole fruit as a snack (similar to other nuts) or as a food ingredient – rich in fat (60%) and protein (25%) – for certain food categories. Chuta kernels are actually toxic due to the presence of phorbol esters (PEs), but there exists also an edible variety in which the content of PEs is below the limit of detection. 

Furthermore, the presence of anti‐nutritional factors is within the range of other vegetables and therefore does not pose safety concerns. Even though the provided data set on toxicity was limited at some points, there were no concerns on safety. However, due to the high protein content of the novel food, allergic reactions are possible and may cause allergy indications on the final product. 

If you consider applying for the authorization of a novel food in the EU and need regulatory consulting, please contact our novel food experts.