Novel foods in the European framework: benefits and risks

Given the rapidly increasing global demand for food, it is mandatory to consider new sources of nutrients, safe and sustainably produced protein foods to complement the current traditional and limited sources of protein in the human diet. In recent years, a wide range of nontraditional protein foods have been explored, prompting the European Union to legislate on how novel foods can be introduced and traded on the European market to ensure their safety. This review will illustrate the range of novel foods authorized in the EU and their potential impact on human health, highlighting the gaps, the potential risks, and the future research opportunities and perspectives.