Traditional food: Bambara seeds and seed flour

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2047 of 29 July 2024 authorising the placing on the market of seeds and seed flour of Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. as a traditional food from a third country and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470

Update

The EU has authorised the sale of a traditional food from Africa: Vigna subterranea seeds and seed flour.

Impacted Products

Bambara (Vigna subterranea) seeds and seed flour

What is changing?

The EU has accepted that a traditional food from Africa – seeds and seed flour of Bambara (Vigna subterranea) – is safe for consumption and may be placed on the EU market.

Foodstuffs containing this traditional food must be labelled with a warning for consumers with known allergies to peanuts and soybeans that the seeds and seed flour of V. subterranea may cause allergic reactions. When the seeds are sold uncooked, the label must state that they should be soaked and boiled before consumption.

Foods must be labelled “Bambara (Vigna subterranea) seeds/ nut/bean/ groundnut” or “Bambara (Vigna subterranea) seed/ nut/bean/ groundnut flour”.

Why?

Foods that are new to the EU market have to undergo evaluation and authorisation.

The European Food Safety Authority has concluded that this traditional food is safe under the proposed conditions of use (EFSA 2024).

For further information on how to bring novel foods to the EU market, see Novel foods explained.

Timeline

Bambara (V. subterranea) seeds and seed flour may be sold on the EU market from 19 August 2024.

Background

Seeds and seed flour of Bambara (Vigna subterranea), a legume, have been consumed for more than 25 years in Africa. The traditional food consists of de-shelled, whole, dried seeds of V. subterranea, or its flour obtained by heat treatment and milling of the seeds.

Resources

Sources

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Regulation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2047 authorising the placing on the market of seeds and seed flour of Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. as a traditional food from a third country

What is changing and why?

The European Commission has authorised the sale of dried seeds and flour of Bambara (Vigna subterranea), a traditional food from Africa, on the EU market. This follows a review of its safety by the European Food Safety Authority.

Foodstuffs containing this traditional food must be labelled with a warning for consumers with known allergies to peanuts and soybeans that the seeds and seed flour of V. subterranea may cause allergic reactions. When the seeds are sold uncooked, the label must state that they should be soaked and boiled before consumption.

Foods must be labelled “Bambara (Vigna subterranea) seeds/ nut/bean/ groundnut” or “Bambara (Vigna subterranea) seed/ nut/bean/ groundnut flour”.

Timeline

Seeds and seed flour of Bambara (Vigna subterranea) may be sold on the EU market from 19 August 2024.

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