Upcycled ingredients are food ingredients produced from by-products or surplus raw materials that would otherwise be discarded, transforming processing waste into commercially viable food components.
In trade practice
Common examples in fruit and vegetable processing include flour or fibre concentrates made from apple or berry pomace, seed oils extracted from stone-fruit kernels and vegetable powders from trim that fails cosmetic grading. The Upcycled Food Association operates a private certification scheme that suppliers can use to substantiate upcycled claims on packaging and in buyer documentation. Buyers should verify that the source material is food-grade and that the upcycled ingredient complies with applicable EU food law, including any novel food requirements if the ingredient or process is not established. Labelling claims must be accurate and not misleading under Regulation (EU) 1169/2011.
In a specification
A product specification for an upcycled ingredient should identify the source by-product, the processing method, the applicable food safety standards and any certification held, and should confirm compliance with EU food law.