Methionine

Description

Methionine is an essential amino acid and is found in nearly all animal and plant proteins.

• See also: amino acids

Application

Methionine is used as:

• an agent affecting taste (it is generally approved for foodstuffs with the exception of ground cereal products and alcohol-free soft drinks). It does not have to be declared on the list of ingredients.
• ingredient in dietary foods and clinical diets
• animal feed supplement, in particular for hens and turkeys.

Gene technology

Synthetic methionine is at present produced chemically. Biotechnological methods employing genetically modified mircoorganisms are being developed and presumably will be used. Unfortunately no details are currently available.

Labelling of foodstuffs: Methionine as a taste-influencing agent does not have to be labelled, as it is not an ingredient in the legal sense.

In dietary products and clinical diets, methionine is considered an ingredient. However, there is still no obligation for it to be labelled if the amino acids are produced in a closed system with the help of GM-microorganisms, providing that the particular amino acid is purified and does not contain any microorganisms.

Labelling of animal feed: amino acids as components of animal feeds have to be labelled. Basically, the same regulations apply as those for foodstuffs.