Monk Fruit powder: from novel food to regular ingredient
Monk fruit powder made from traditional aqueous decoctions is now treated as a regular ingredient rather than a novel food in the UK. That matters because it clarifies that this form of monk fruit has a recognised history of consumption and can be sold without novel food approval.
What is the short answer?
- Traditional monk fruit decoction powder is not treated as a novel food.
- This applies to specific product forms, not every monk fruit format.
- The regulatory distinction matters for UK brands and shoppers.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has officially confirmed that non-selective aqueous decoctions of monk fruit are not considered novel foods. Evidence shows that monk fruit decoctions were consumed to a "significant degree" in the UK before 15 May 1997.
Because the UK was part of the EU at that time, this finding supports the view that the same type of monk fruit decoctions are also not novel in the EU. Food and drink manufacturers can now use authorised monk fruit decoctions as ingredients under normal food regulations, without going through the full novel food approval process.
One important distinction: highly concentrated monk fruit extracts used as intense sweeteners remain classified as novel foods or food additives and still require specific authorisation before use.
In short, monk fruit powder in the form of traditional decoctions is now recognised as a regular food ingredient in both the UK and EU. For the full regulatory background, see our detailed article on whether Monk Fruit is legal in the UK and EU.
Why choose Zilch Monk Fruit Infusion Powder
Zilch is made from pure monk fruit decoction powder: natural sweetness with negligible calories per serving, no artificial additives, non-GMO, and vegan-friendly.
Now that monk fruit decoction is confirmed as a regular food ingredient, you can enjoy Zilch with complete confidence.