Turkey Tail & Cordyceps Classified as Novel Foods: What the UK Announcement Means for Functional Mushrooms

As a well-respected UK wellness brand working with functional ingredients, My Dailys closely follows regulatory developments that affect both our industry and our customers. Recently, we became aware of an announcement indicating that two traditional functional mushrooms, Turkey Tail and Cordyceps militaris, are now being treated as Novel Foods under current Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidance.

This development has raised understandable questions across the functional mushroom space. These are not newly engineered substances, but mushrooms with long histories of traditional use, extensive modern research, and natural presence within the UK ecosystem.

What Does “Novel Food” Mean in the UK?

Under UK food regulation, a Novel Food is defined as something that was not consumed to a significant degree before 15 May 1997. Once an ingredient is classified as novel, it must go through a formal authorization process before it can be legally sold.

This process typically involves detailed safety assessments, extensive documentation, and regulatory review, often requiring significant time and financial investment. While these measures exist to protect consumers, they can present challenges for smaller, science-led businesses.

Why Turkey Tail and Cordyceps Are Being Reclassified

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)

Turkey Tail is one of the most common wild mushrooms found in the UK. It has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been widely researched for its polysaccharides, including PSK and PSP.

In several countries, extracts of Turkey Tail have been used for decades within structured wellness and medical frameworks. Despite this, its regulatory status is now being re-examined under novel food definitions.

Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps militaris is also native to the UK and has a long history of traditional use, particularly for vitality and resilience. Much of the current regulatory uncertainty relates not to the mushroom itself, but to how specific cultivated strains or preparations are interpreted under the 1997 cutoff framework.

In short, the issue is largely administrative rather than the result of new safety concerns.

A Broader Challenge for Functional Foods

This situation highlights a wider challenge facing innovation within the UK functional food and supplement sector. As interest in natural health products has grown, regulatory frameworks have not always evolved at the same pace.

Many industry experts have previously noted that while food safety regulation is essential, it must also be flexible enough to account for traditional use, scientific evidence, and modern production methods.

Our Perspective at My Dailys

At My Dailys, we fully support robust food safety standards and responsible regulation. Consumer trust and product quality are fundamental to everything we do.

At the same time, we believe regulation should be evidence-led, proportionate, and informed by both history and modern science. As a brand offering Lion’s Mane, we are particularly mindful of how regulatory interpretations can affect the wider mushroom category.

We take compliance seriously — sourcing responsibly, testing thoroughly, and ensuring our products align with current UK guidance. Developments like this reinforce why transparency and regulatory awareness matter for both brands and consumers.

Why This Matters to Consumers

Regulatory decisions influence which ingredients remain available, how much products cost, and which businesses can continue to innovate responsibly. When long-established natural ingredients become difficult to access due to regulatory interpretation rather than demonstrated risk, it raises important questions about balance.

Striking the right balance between consumer protection and access to traditional, well-studied ingredients is essential for the future of functional nutrition.

Looking Ahead

Discussions between businesses, scientists, and regulators are ongoing. These conversations take time, and outcomes are rarely immediate. As developments unfold, we will continue to stay informed and share relevant updates with our community.

Final Thoughts

Functional mushrooms such as Turkey Tail and Cordyceps have deep historical roots and growing scientific interest. Ensuring their regulation is fair, proportionate, and grounded in evidence benefits everyone from producers to consumers.

Thoughtful regulation should protect public health while allowing responsible innovation to thrive.