7 May 2026
Perspectives on Novel Foods: hurdles, hopes, and opportunities
The EU Novel Food Regulation was built to protect consumers — but is it now standing in the way of a sustainable food transition?
Our new catalogue explores the tension between food innovation and EU regulation, asking whether the Novel Food Regulation supports or hinders Denmark's ambitions in climate, resilience, and competitiveness.
New foods, from microalgae and precision fermentation to cell-based meat, could play a real role in making our food system more sustainable. But in the EU, bringing them to market requires novel food approval, a process that on average takes 2.6 years, and in some cases up to six.
The regulation wasn't designed to block progress. It was born out of crisis: the Mad Cow Disease outbreak, the GMO debate, and a genuine need to rebuild consumer trust. That context still matters when we talk about reforming it.
Yet the friction is real. Innovators find the process slow and unpredictable. EFSA and food startups often seem to speak different languages. And with only 1 in 3 Europeans willing to try novel foods, consumer trust remains fragile on both sides of the equation.
What becomes clear is that speed and safety are not opposites, but bridging that gap requires better communication, more transparency, and an honest conversation about what we want our food system to become.
Our new catalogue Perspectives on Novel Foods brings together expert interviews, workshop insights, and three articles on the tensions between food innovation and EU regulation. It's our attempt to start that conversation.
<<< [Read the full catalogue here] >>>
Main authors:
Helena Gustavs Formgren
Ellen Kjær Junker
Contributing authors:
Asmus Gamdrup Jensen
Peter Nøhr
Sofie Raae Søndergaard
Louise Beck Brønnum
This catalogue is created through the Interdisciplinary Future Food Network, funded by GUDP under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
What can we do for you?
At Kost Studio, we don't just study these challenges — we help companies navigate them.
We guide food businesses, startups, and innovators through every stage of the EU Novel Food Regulation, from determining whether your product is novel, to building the evidence case and submitting your dossier.
By combining legal precision, food history knowledge, scientific depth, and commercial awareness, we map the fastest, most defensible path to the EU market.
Get in touch to discuss your product and the right regulatory strategy for your goals.
Join the nutrition transition.
If you’re tackling the toughest challenges in nutrition and longevity, we want to hear your story — and help you scale it.