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Cited by 234Seaweed-derived Bioactive CompoundsFood Industry and Aquatic BiologyConsumer Attitudes and Food Labeling

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Algae as Food in Europe: An Overview of Species Diversity and Their Application

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Mendes, Madalena, Navalho, Sofia, Ferreira, Alice, Paulino, Cristina, Figueiredo, Daniel, Silva, Daniel, Gao, Fengzheng, Gama, Florinda, Bombo, Gabriel, Jacinto, Rita, Aveiro, Susana, Schulze, Peter, Gonçalves, Ana Teresa, Pereira, Hugo, Gouveia, Luisa, Patarra, Rita, Abreu, Maria Helena, Silva, Joana, Navalho, João, Varela, João, Speranza, Lais·2022·Foods
DOI 10.3390/foods11131871PMC PMC9265617
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Abstract

Algae have been consumed for millennia in several parts of the world as food, food supplements, and additives, due to their unique organoleptic properties and nutritional and health benefits. Algae are sustainable sources of proteins, minerals, and fiber, with well-balanced essential amino acids, pigments, and fatty acids, among other relevant metabolites for human nutrition. This review covers the historical consumption of algae in Europe, developments in the current European market, challenges when introducing new species to the market, bottlenecks in production technology, consumer acceptance, and legislation. The current algae species that are consumed and commercialized in Europe were investigated, according to their status under the European Union (EU) Novel Food legislation, along with the market perspectives in terms of the current research and development initiatives, while evaluating the interest and potential in the European market. The regular consumption of more than 150 algae species was identified, of which only 20% are approved under the EU Novel Food legislation, which demonstrates that the current legislation is not broad enough and requires an urgent update. Finally, the potential of the European algae market growth was indicated by the analysis of the trends in research, technological advances, and market initiatives to promote algae commercialization and consumption.

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Crossref · 10.3390/foods11131871

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Figure 1 European historical marks on algae consumption as a food and food supplements (image not scaled) [6,14,58,59,60,68,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,85,86,87,88,91,93,99,100,101,102,103,104,106,107,108,109,111,112,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155,156].
Figure 1 European historical marks on algae consumption as a food and food supplements (image not scaled) [6,14,58,59,60,68,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,85,86,87,88,91,93,99,100,101,102,103,104,106,107,108,109,111,112,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155,156].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Global and European algae market trends from 2016 to 2023. Data from Statista (2020) [167].
Figure 2 Global and European algae market trends from 2016 to 2023. Data from Statista (2020) [167].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Algae species consumed in Europe, subdivided into Microalgae and Seaweeds (the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyta groups). Highlighted novel food (NF) species are presented in the Novel Food Catalog; food supplements (FS) are those Food Supplements listed on the European Union list. Species with consumption evidence before 1997 are highlighted *. A detailed table with the common names and referenced evidence is given in the Supplementary Material (Table S2).
Figure 3 Algae species consumed in Europe, subdivided into Microalgae and Seaweeds (the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyta groups). Highlighted novel food (NF) species are presented in the Novel Food Catalog; food supplements (FS) are those Food Supplements listed on the European Union list. Species with consumption evidence before 1997 are highlighted *. A detailed table with the common names and referenced evidence is given in the Supplementary Material (Table S2).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Overview regarding EU funding for algae-related projects. (a) Funding per year for microalgae-related projects in the European Commission, within the framework programs FP4-H2020; (b) the number of H2020 projects led, per country; (c) EC projects funding per leading country; (d) main areas of the projects funded; and (e) the proportion of projects connected to microalgae or seaweed [296].
Figure 4 Overview regarding EU funding for algae-related projects. (a) Funding per year for microalgae-related projects in the European Commission, within the framework programs FP4-H2020; (b) the number of H2020 projects led, per country; (c) EC projects funding per leading country; (d) main areas of the projects funded; and (e) the proportion of projects connected to microalgae or seaweed [296].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Schematic summary of this review.
Figure 5 Schematic summary of this review.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Citations

Cites

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Show all 229 references

Research works printed but not linked: 28

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Metadata

Authors
Mendes, M., Navalho, S., Ferreira, A., Paulino, C., Figueiredo, D., Silva, D., Gao, F., Gama, F., Bombo, G., Jacinto, R., Aveiro, S., Schulze, P., Gonçalves, A. T., Pereira, H., Gouveia, L., Patarra, R., Abreu, M. H., Silva, J., Navalho, J., Varela, J., & Speranza, L.
Affiliations
  • GreenCoLab (PT)
  • National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (PT)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • Nord University (NO)
  • GreenCoLab—Associação Oceano Verde, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
  • Universidade dos Açores (PT)
  • ALGAplus, Produção e Comercialização de Algas e Seus Derivados, Lda., 3830-196 Ílhavo, Portugal
  • Allmicroalgae—Natural Products, 2445-413 Pataias, Portugal
  • Necton (Portugal) (PT)
  • Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (PT)
Corresponding author
Speranza, Lais
ORCID
Venue
Foods
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-06-24
Volume
11
Issue
13
Pages
1871
ISSN
2304-8158 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/foods11131871
PMC
PMC9265617
OpenAlex
W4283461407
Cited by
234
References
229
Citations by year
2026: 47 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 10
FWCI
3.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Foods (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • ProFuture project (2019–2023 “Microagae protein-rich ingredients for the food and feed of the future”) (862980, UID/BIA/00329/2020–2023, UID/Multi/04326/2020, SFRH/BGCT/135478/2018, SFRH/BD/144122/2019)
  • National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (862980, UID/BIA/00329/2020–2023, UID/Multi/04326/2020, SFRH/BGCT/135478/2018, SFRH/BD/144122/2019)
  • FCT Science and Technology Management Fellowship (862980, UID/BIA/00329/2020–2023, UID/Multi/04326/2020, SFRH/BGCT/135478/2018, SFRH/BD/144122/2019)
  • FCT Ph.D. (862980, UID/BIA/00329/2020–2023, UID/Multi/04326/2020, SFRH/BGCT/135478/2018, SFRH/BD/144122/2019)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Industry and Aquatic Biology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Keywords
edible algae, species diversity, consumer acceptance, dietary supplements, food additives

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