Scelta Mushrooms BV has successfully received authorization from EFSA, the European food safety authority, to use the novel food status. In accordance with regulation (EU) 2018/1011 of 17 July 2018 Scelta has developed a method to access the naturally available vitamin D2 in mushrooms.

In 2014 Scelta Mushrooms began research on releasing the naturally available vitamin D2 in mushrooms. From the recently built and state of the art Scelta Essenza factory in Venlo the organization now has the official green light to service their customers. Moving forward partners in 70+ countries all over the world will get mushrooms high on vitamin D. This development is completely in line with the company’s mission to strive for a healthier and more nutritious future.

Mushrooms contain a provitamin called ergosterol which can be converted into vitamin D2 under the influence of UVB light. This type of light is a big part of the natural sunlight. The mushroom then converts it into vitamin D2 all by itself. Nothing is added to the product artificially.

Because growing white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) happens inside and therefore in the dark they don’t receive any sunlight (UVB). That’s why a UVB controlled light treatment during the production process is applied to make the vitamin D2 available. The exact amount of vitamin D2 released is regulated because the process is both controlled and checked.

Vitamin D has many benefits for man’s body and mental health. The main function of vitamin D is to maintain the calcium balance which is necessary for the maintenance of strong bones. Also Vitamin D plays a key role in boosting the immune system as well as repair and maintenance of DNA and gene regulation.

Scelta Mushrooms will start making vitamin D available in their innovative Ecopouch® product. This is a versatile and clean label conserved mushroom pouch. The Ecopouch is mainly sold in the Food service channel. Scelta is the first company in the world to apply this method of conservation to processed mushrooms.

In the meanwhile other production processes are also prepared to make vitamin D available across the range, like mushroom powders and dried mushrooms.

Scelta Mushroom is a member of Foodvalley.