Taiwan’s new regulations on aloe vera use in food, supplements to kick in next January

This follows the European Commission’s similar ban on aloe extracts and other hydroxyanthracene derivatives announced last year.​ Under Taiwan’s new regulation, aloe vera raw materials used in food must be derived from the leaves of the species of Aloe Ferox. ​ In addition, the skin of the leaves must be completely peel before it could be processed for use. Another change is that aloin – derived from the sheath cells of the leaves, should not be present in more than 10 part per million (ppm) in a food product. Precaution statements, such as “not for use in pregnant women” should also be labelled on the products, unless the product has been tested to contain less than 1ppm of aloin. Aloin, a bioactive found in aloe vera, is said to be a strong laxative which can cause stomach cramps. The Taiwan FDA had made the announcement​ on the “Use Restrictions and Labelling Requirements of Aloe as a Food Ingredient” on March 17. “Aloe vera leaves contain the bioactive aloin, which belongs to ...