Legislative control of quinoa in the United Kingdom and European Union

In this chapter food safety control in relation to quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) as food and food ingredient was discussed and evaluated through a critical examination of the current statutory provisions at United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) Levels. The risk if any, posed by quinoa seeds from production to consumption were identified and suggestions for compliance were made. Quinoa though novel in the UK and marketed loosely as superfood apparently does not warrant any specific (vertical) food safety control requirements and thus is not restricted by the Novel Food Regulation (EC) No. 258/97. This assertion is supported through the composition; the constituents are non-toxic, consumption of quinoa in South America dates to back to several centuries and there is no reported adverse food safety incident. However quinoa, like all foods must meet food safety requirements as stated in the Food Safety Act 1990 as amended and Regulation (EC) 178 /2002 on general food law.