A cockerel's comb, which is referred to by the company as a rooster's comb, is the large fleshy red skin on top of the cockerel's head.

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997, says the FSA.

The company, Bioiberica, states that rooster combs have been consumed in some European countries as part of traditional dishes. The applicant also states that rooster combs extract that is rich in sodium hyaluronate, helps to lubricate and cushion joints. The company plans to add the extract to dairy foods, including milks, yoghurts and fromage frais.

Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market, it must be assessed rigorously for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency.

Any comments on the application should be emailed to the ACNFP secretariat ([email protected] by Tuesday 1 March 2011. The comments will be considered by the committee when it begins its assessment of this novel food ingredient.

More information is available on the FSA web site [click here].