The maximum daily intake of food additive gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), used for its calming effects, would be reduced to no more than 100mg, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Thursday.
GABA is an amino acid that helps promote normal brain functioning by blocking stress-related messages from reaching receptor sites in the central nervous system.
It is present in some natural and fermented foods, including spinach, oats, wheat, barley and kimchi.
Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei Times
GABA is increasingly used as an additive in juice, soft drinks, jelly and chocolate.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that GABA could be harmful when consumed with alcohol, medicine for lowering blood pressure or sedatives, which could enhance their effects.
FDA Deputy Director Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said that GABA occurs naturally in many plants, and is also found in higher concentrations in lactic acid-fermented food such as sauerkraut and kimchi.
People are looking for food products that could aid their sleeping or be used as a sedative, so more producers are incorporating GABA into their products, he said.
The new draft guideline would place a limit of 100mg of GABA in products if it is derived from the fermentation process of microbial culture, the FDA news release said.
These products must also carry a warning saying: “Users of this product should refrain from consuming alcohol, ingesting medicine to lower blood pressure, sedatives and anti-seizure drugs” and “Pregnant women, those breastfeeding and infants should first consult with a medical doctor before consuming the product,” the release said.
In Canada, the daily recommended intake for GABA no more than 300mg, Lin said.
However, after consultation with experts, the FDA would place the limit in Taiwan at 100mg, because Taiwanese already consume relatively higher levels of GABA due to their dietary habits.
The draft plan would take affect after a 60-day public consultation period, Lin said.
However, the warning message is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, he added.
After the regulation comes into effect, including the requirement to display GABA levels and a warning on packaging, those who contravene the regulation would be fined between NT$30,000 and NT$3 million (US$938 and US$93,820) under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), Lin said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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