About
A proprietary mixture of extracts or concentrates derived from multiple fruits and/or vegetables, standardised for antioxidant activity (e.g., polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C, tocopherols). Used in foods and nutraceuticals to retard oxidative spoilage, extend shelf life, and/or deliver phytonutrient benefits.
Safety summary
Fruit and vegetable-derived antioxidant blends are generally recognised as safe (GRAS) when composed of well-characterised plant sources with a long history of consumption; no ADI has been formally established by EFSA or FDA for the blend category as a whole. Individual bioactive constituents (e.g., beta-carotene at high supplemental doses) may carry specific cautions, but at typical food-use levels the broad scientific consensus supports safety for the general population. Because the formulation is proprietary, exact constituent identity and dose cannot be independently verified, introducing a degree of residual uncertainty for regulatory compliance purposes.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Fruit and vegetable-derived antioxidant preparations do not carry a single unified E-number as a class. Where individual components (e.g., tocopherols E306-E309, ascorbic acid E300) are authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, they must be declared by E-number or name. Proprietary blends must disclose function and identity on label. EFSA's ongoing re-evaluation programme covers individual food-additive antioxidants.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Under FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals) Regulations, fruits and vegetables listed in Indian Food Composition Tables (NIN/ICMR) may be used as such or as processed extracts in supplements and nutraceuticals. Specific health benefit claims require prior FSSAI approval. Blends used as food additives fall under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, category 99.1.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Fruit and vegetable extracts used as antioxidants may qualify as GRAS under 21 CFR 182 (natural substances) or through the GRAS notification pathway. No upper use limit is specified beyond current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). See also FDA GRN-690 (NutriFusion fruit/vegetable vitamin extract, GRAS). Proprietary blends must still declare each ingredient by its common or usual name under 21 CFR 101.4; use as a chemical preservative triggers additional labelling requirements under 21 CFR 101.22(j).source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. GRAS Notice GRN-690: Fruit and Vegetable Vitamin Extract (NutriFusion Blend). fda.gov
- 2FDA. Agency Response Letter GRAS Notice No. GRN-000781: Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate from Edible Fruits and Vegetables (NutriFusion). fda.gov
- 3EFSA. Food Additives — EFSA Topic Overview (Antioxidants), 2026. efsa.europa.eu
- 4PubMed. Chemical Evaluation and Nutritional Benefits of Dietary Additives Formulated From Fruit Peel Blends, 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5PubMed. The Role of Genetic Variation in Modulating the Effects of Blended Fruits and Vegetables Versus Fruit- and Vegetable-Coated Food Products on Antioxidant Capacity, DNA Protection, and Vascular Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial, 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals) Regulations — Compendium Version 2021, 2021.
