Can hemp seed oil single-ingredient be marketed as food supplement?

Abstract

In recent decades, diet and nutrition have become central to health, with particular attention to food supplements (FS), which represent an increasingly growing global market. Among single-ingredient FS, the formulation and composition of the product do not always meet the definition required by legislation. Hemp seed oil, known for its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and other beneficial compounds such as tocopherols and phytosterols, is derived from Cannabis sativa seeds. The composition and presentation of the product described in this way, however, does not appear to fully meet the European regulatory definition of FS. Despite this, the product thus formulated would appear to have a sales impact on the market worldwide. This short technical note aimed to evaluate these aspects from the expert's point of view, in order to analyze the legislative and market aspects, to safeguard the consumer and public health.