Cordyceps sinensis vs Cordyceps militaris: Understanding the Mushrooms and the Novel Food Act

Cordyceps is in the news right now because of the Novel Food Act and the fact that this legislation bars certain mushrooms from sale in the UK. The fact is that this legislation has been in place since 1997 and although we would 100% support any efforts to reclassify mushrooms such as Cordyceps Militaris and Turkey Tail to legal status, Love Mushrooms has always worked within these legal boundaries. Part of our mission is to educate on functional mushrooms, and so not to hesitate, in this article I am taking some time to explain the key differences between Cordyceps Sinensis and Cordyceps Militaris, how they differ functionally, and why the Novel Food Act plays such a crucial role in what we choose to sell.

The Cordyceps Genus

The truth is the mushroom and fungi kingdom is vast and diverse.  There are many different forms of Cordyceps  and they primarily fall into three broad categories: 1) Cordyceps (which includes Militaris); 2) Ophiocordyceps (which includes Sinensis); 3) Metacordyceps.

A wild fact is there are estimated to be between 600-750 different types of Cordyceps mushrooms in the wild, including the infamous ophiocordyceps unilateralis (the parasitic zombie mushroom made famous by the TV show, The Last of Us - don’t worry though, that show was fictional...) although the ones primarily of interest to us in terms of functional benefit and are used in functional mushroom food supplements, are Cordyceps Militaris and Cordyceps Sinensis. 

Cordyceps in general is known traditionally for supporting vitality, energy, and resilience, it has become a staple ingredient in modern mushroom supplements, including in many Love Mushrooms supplements. However, not all Cordyceps are treated equally, especially when it comes to the Novel Food Act. Love Mushrooms uses Cordyceps Sinensis as we’ve been aware of the exclusion of Militaris from use in food supplements since our inception, as the Novel Food Regulation has been part of UK food law since 1997 and continues to apply today under retained UK law following Brexit.

What Is the Novel Food Act?

The Novel Food Regulation was introduced in the European Union and came into force in 1997 to ensure consumer safety when foods or ingredients are newly introduced to the market. It stipulates that any food not widely consumed in the EU before 15 May 1997 is considered “novel”, with such ‘novel foods’ needing authorisation before being legally sold

The regulation was updated in 2015 (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283), streamlining applications and strengthening safety requirements.

The UK and Brexit

Following Brexit, the UK retained the Novel Food framework in domestic law. In practice, this means that the same historical cut-off date (1997) still applies, and that ingredients considered novel require approval from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Enforcement remains active in the UK supplement market and Love Mushrooms has been assessed many times over the years by Trading Standards and retailers to ensure we are not selling certain mushrooms. This is one of the reasons why I personally can’t understand why this news comes as such a shock to our friends in other functional mushroom businesses in the UK, but maybe they’ve been lucky or unlucky (depending on your perspective) until now…

In short: Brexit didn’t relax the rules and compliance still matters. And sadly this regulation also affects other incredible mushrooms like Turkey Tail (Versicolor Trametes) which is a personal fav of mine. 

I’m not going to get into my feelings on Brexit here and what could have been executed better or not, but maybe you can infer this from my writing and the fact that I’d personally love to see all functional mushrooms of genuine benefit open for UK (and EU, for that matter) consumers. 

Cordyceps sinensis vs Cordyceps militaris: So, what’s the Difference?

Cordyceps sinensis (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)

Cordyceps sinensis is the traditional species referenced in Chinese herbal texts for centuries. Historically rare and prized, it was originally harvested from high-altitude regions of Tibet and China.

I love its functional profile, and although we cannot make ‘health claims’ for legal reasons, traditionally it has been associated with benefits such as supporting energy and stamina; helping the body adapt to stress; respiratory and endurance support; and overall vitality and balance.

Importantly for consumers in the UK and EU, Cordyceps Sinensis has a documented historical use prior to 1997 and as a result, it is not classified as a novel food when used in food supplements, which means it can be legally sold without novel food authorisation.

Importantly in the context of the current online debate around Cordyceps and Novel Food, Love Mushrooms have always been producing products with organic Cordyceps Sinensis and will continue to as not only do we know and believe in its benefits, but it is the only Cordyceps mushroom we can sell according to the law.

Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps militaris is a different species entirely. I have cultivated a lot of this mushroom in my time and love the delicacy in which it needs to be grown, using carefully created protein broth to support growth - in fact I used to grow my own spirulina to supplement my production… 

However, from a regulatory perspective, Cordyceps Militaris unfortunately does not have sufficient evidence of consumption before 1997, and is therefore classed as a novel food and no general authorisation currently exists for its use in food supplements in the UK or EU. I hope we see a change to this in the near future. 

This means that, despite its popularity online and many functional mushroom companies having fortuitously skirted the law for years, Cordyceps militaris cannot legally be sold as a food supplement without prior approval.

Why Love Mushrooms UK Uses Cordyceps sinensis

At Love Mushrooms UK, we don’t just follow trends, we follow the science, the history, and the law.

We choose Cordyceps Sinensis because it has established traditional use and we understand its potent benefits. It complies fully with UK and EU food regulations and therefore it allows our customers to buy with confidence.

Our team has spent years specialising in functional mushrooms, sourcing, and compliance. Knowing what’s allowed is just as important as knowing what works.

Love Mushrooms UK Cordyceps Products

Our Cordyceps sinensis products are all made using high-quality, organic Cordyceps sinensis and are designed for modern lifestyles seeking balance and vitality. They are fully compliant with UK food supplement regulations and are produced with the same care and attention as all Love Mushrooms formulations.

We believe functional mushrooms should be effective, potent, legally compliant, clearly labelled and honestly marketed. That’s why you won’t find regulatory grey areas in our range. I’ve been careful to scour legalese myself, and in collaboration with legal experts, in creating our products.

Final Thoughts

Cordyceps is a powerful and fascinating mushroom, but understanding which type of Cordyceps matters:

Cordyceps sinensis: traditional, potent benefits, and legally compliant.

Cordyceps militaris: interesting and potent - I wish we could cultivate and sell it, and we will support any efforts to bring regulatory clarity to be able to sell it in the UK, but sadly it is currently restricted under novel food law.

At Love Mushrooms UK, we take pride in doing things properly. When it comes to mushrooms and the law, we know our stuff.

Check our products that include organic Cordyceps Sinensis here. 

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Yours,

Smith Feeney

Co-Founder and Director, Love Mushrooms