Acacia rigidula versus other Acacia taxa: An alarming issue in the European novel food regulation and food supplement industry

Abstract

Based on the signals recorded in the RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed), Acacia rigidula is a repeat- edly emerging unauthorized ingredient in weight loss dietary supplements in the European Union. Although the fruit, bark and gum of Acacia nilotica can be marketed as food supplement, and the gum of Acacia senegal as food ingredient, A. rigidula is an unauthorized novel food in the European Union. Here we present the first systematic overview of the phyto- chemical and pharmacological data reported on safety and efficacy of A. rigidula.