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ILSI India K-FFIG releases guidance doc on traditional knowledge for novel foods & ingredients
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Wednesday, 15 April, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bengaluru
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ILSI India’s Knowledge Centre on Functional Foods, Immunity and Gut Health (K-FFIG) has published a guidance document on the Use of Traditional Knowledge in Scientific Evidence-Based Novel Foods and Ingredients, aimed at enabling the responsible translation of traditional wisdom into validated, safe, and effective food solutions for public benefit.
The document outlines key pathways for integrating Traditional Knowledge into modern food science, including ethical frameworks emphasising Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and equitable benefit-sharing. It provides scientific validation approaches, including History of Safe/Long Use (HoSU) and chemical equivalency. Further there is a regulatory guidance for navigating biodiversity laws and intellectual property considerations.
For centuries, traditional communities in India have cultivated a deep understanding of the natural world, developing food systems that go beyond sustenance to encompass healing, wellness, and cultural identity. However, in today’s era of globalised food systems and stringent regulatory frameworks, this vast repository of Traditional Knowledge (TK) often remains underutilised in mainstream scientific and industrial innovation.
Dr D B Narayana, CSO, Ayurvidye Trust, and eminent pharmacist and expert reviewer of the document, highlighted the depth of India’s knowledge systems stating that, “Classical treatises such as the Charaka Samhita, part of the Bruhat-Trayi, provide extensive guidance on health and disease management. The text emphasises the continuum of anna (food), anna-aushadhi (food as medicine), and aushadhi (medicine), reflecting a holistic approach to health that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.”
With growing interest in functional foods and nutraceuticals to address modern health challenges—such as immunity, gut health, inflammation, and oxidative stress—the need to translate, “history of use”, into robust scientific evidence has become increasingly important.
Dr B Sesikeran, chairman, ILSI India K-FFIG, said, “The key challenge lies in aligning the holistic and often orally transmitted traditional practices with the rigorous, evidence-based requirements of regulatory authorities such as FSSAI, CDSCO, EFSA, and US FDA. This Guidance Document provides a structured and practical framework to bridge this gap, ensuring that innovation is both scientifically validated and ethically grounded.”
“By harmonising traditional wisdom with modern scientific rigor, we can foster innovation that is safe, credible, and culturally rooted. This document serves as a valuable resource for researchers, industry, and policymakers committed to advancing evidence-based nutrition for public health,” added Dr Sesikeran.
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