CBD on Foods: It can cure migraines, eliminate anxiety, help you sleep at night and even prevent cognitive decline — or so the manufacturers of CBD-infused food and drinks say. The FDA, on the other hand, is not so sure.
The food status of the hemp plant C. sativa and plant parts – such as seeds, seed oil, hemp seed flour, hemp seed protein, and so on – as well as CBD, is well recognized in different parts of the world. However, regulatory complexities persist.
On the one hand, there are divergent regulations and criteria in relation to the parts of the plant that are accepted as the source of the food ingredient, as well as on the maximum limits of THC contamination in the ingredient or in the final product. On the other hand, there are significant differences in the way national authorities interpret and apply current rules in relation to isolate CBD, full spectrum CBD and synthetic CBD.
In the current context, it is apparent that the growth of the market has been mainly due to internet sales of products containing CBD. The larger food and food supplement companies seem to have been waiting for the further clarification of regulatory challenges as well as for the outcome of the ongoing safety assessments. However, there are emerging examples already of international ingredient suppliers getting increasingly involved in hemp-derived ingredients including CBD. In this regard, this trend may eventually turn into a greater engagement of the largest companies with important resources for accessing markets worldwide.
Considering this, companies need to keep current with this evolving regulatory environment to develop successful marketing strategies and identify upcoming business opportunities.
