Is Monk Fruit Legal in the UK?
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Yes, in its decoction form. In June 2024 the Food Standards Agency confirmed that non-selective aqueous decoctions of monk fruit, made by simmering the fruit in water, are not novel foods, so they can be sold in Great Britain. Highly concentrated mogroside preparations aren't covered and would need authorisation first.
Monk fruit has become a popular alternative to sugar, but if you're in the UK you may wonder whether it's even legal here. Below we explain monk fruit's status, what changed in 2024 and what it means for shoppers and food businesses. You can find our monk fruit liquid drops and the rest of our monk fruit sweeteners in the Groovy Keto range.
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The monk fruit debate: a quick overview
Monk fruit (luo han guo) is a small green melon native to southern China. Most of its sweetness comes from compounds called mogrosides, which is why so little is needed to sweeten food and drinks. Read more about the fruit itself in our guide to monk fruit, or about its sweet compounds in mogrosides: what they are and where to find them.
For years, monk fruit products faced regulatory hurdles in the UK and the EU because of the "novel food" rules. A novel food is one that wasn't eaten to a significant degree in the UK or EU before 15 May 1997, and it needs a full assessment and authorisation before it can be sold. That limited monk fruit's availability, until recent decisions changed things.
The FSA's 2024 decision on monk fruit decoctions
On 26 June 2024, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published its determination on non-selective aqueous decoctions of monk fruit: they are not novel foods. A decoction is made by simmering the fruit in water, without selectively concentrating particular compounds. In practice, that means you can now buy monk fruit decoction sweeteners in the UK.
The FSA's decision applies in England and Wales. Food Standards Scotland reached the same conclusion for Scotland, notified on 21 June 2024.
The decision followed a High Court judgment in March 2024 on monk fruit's novel food status. Evidence that monk fruit decoctions were consumed before 15 May 1997 played a role, because foods with a significant history of consumption before that date don't need novel food authorisation.
Which types of monk fruit are legal in the UK?
Here's where it gets specific:
| Form | How it's made | Status in Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Non-selective aqueous decoction | Whole fruit simmered in water | Not novel: can be sold |
| Concentrated mogroside preparations | Sweet compounds purified to high concentration | Not covered: needs authorisation first |
- Aqueous decoctions: confirmed as not novel, so monk fruit decoctions can be used in food and drink in Great Britain. Our Monk Fruit Decoction & Erythritol Sweetener is made this way.
- Concentrated mogroside preparations: highly concentrated monk fruit sweeteners, made by selectively separating the mogrosides, of the kind sold as sugar substitutes in some other countries, aren't covered by the 2024 decisions. They haven't been authorised in Great Britain, so a company would need to get authorisation before selling them here.
In Northern Ireland, which follows EU novel food rules, monk fruit decoctions are also not novel. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reached that view in October 2024, and the European Commission lists it for the whole EU.
In the UK, look for "monk fruit decoction" in the ingredients list. That tells you which form of monk fruit the product contains.
What this means for shoppers and businesses
For shoppers, the decision means you're likely to see monk fruit in a wider range of products on UK shelves, from table-top sweeteners to drinks and bakes.
For UK food businesses, it lowers the regulatory barrier. Monk fruit decoctions can be used in new food and drink products without going through the novel food authorisation process, although all the usual food labelling and safety rules still apply.
What could change next?
The FSA's decision settles the status of decoctions but leaves open the question of concentrated mogroside preparations. Companies may apply for authorisation for those in future. For now, only non-selective aqueous decoctions are confirmed as not novel.
The decision brings Great Britain a little closer to the US, where the FDA has responded "no questions" to GRAS notices for monk fruit (luo han guo) extracts since 2010, although most US products use the concentrated extracts that aren't authorised here.
Key takeaways
- Monk fruit decoctions are legal: the FSA has confirmed that non-selective aqueous decoctions are not novel foods, so they can be sold in Great Britain.
- Concentrated mogroside preparations aren't covered: they would need authorisation before they can be sold.
- More choice on the shelves: the decision makes it easier for UK brands to offer products sweetened with monk fruit.
Ready to try it? Browse our monk fruit sweeteners, or read our complete UK guide to monk fruit sweetener.
Frequently asked questions
Is monk fruit legal in the UK?
Yes, as a decoction. In June 2024 the Food Standards Agency confirmed that non-selective aqueous decoctions of monk fruit are not novel foods, so they can be sold in Great Britain. Highly concentrated mogroside preparations aren't covered by that decision and would need authorisation before they could be sold here.
What is a monk fruit decoction?
A monk fruit decoction is made by simmering the fruit in water and then drying or reducing the liquid. "Non-selective" means no particular compounds are singled out and concentrated. It's a traditional method, and it's the form of monk fruit the Food Standards Agency confirmed as not novel in 2024.
Why was monk fruit banned in the UK?
It wasn't banned outright. Under the novel food rules, a food that wasn't eaten to a significant degree in the UK or EU before 15 May 1997 needs authorisation before it can be sold. Monk fruit was treated as novel until 2024, when, following a High Court judgment, the FSA confirmed that decoctions have that history of consumption.
How can I tell which type of monk fruit a product contains?
Check the ingredients list. In the UK, products made with the permitted form will usually list "monk fruit decoction". Our 1:1 blend, decoction powder and liquid drops are all made with monk fruit decoction. If you're unsure about another brand's product, ask the seller which form of monk fruit it uses.
